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Brand Names: Rilutek
Generic Name: Riluzole

What is Riluzole? Riluzole is the first drug to be approved for ALS. Riluzole, available as Rilutek®, does not cure ALS or improve symptoms, but may extend the survival of patients by approximately three months. It appears to be more effective in patients with bulbar-onset than for those with limb-onset.

See more information, including instructions, precautions, side effects, and interactions.


Reasons Taken

902 patients in the community are taking or have taken Riluzole.

Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Slow my ALS progress 773 85%
disease-related symptoms 17 1%
Other 16 1%
Don't know 8 <1%
Stiffness/spasticity 6 <1%
General health 6 <1%
Fasciculations 4 <1%
Fatigue 3 <1%
Mobility 2 <1%
Support another treatment 2 <1%
Bulbar symptoms 1 <1%
Anxiety 1 <1%
Pain 1 <1%

Dosages

Based on the patients currently taking Riluzole.

Top 10 (Show all)

All (Show Top 10)

  0 mg Daily 1 mg Daily 2 mg Daily 5 mg Daily 20 mg Daily 25 mg Daily 30 mg Daily 40 mg Daily 50 mg Daily 60 mg Daily 75 mg Daily 80 mg Daily 100 mg Daily 100 Daily 125 mg Daily 150 mg Daily 200 mg Daily 300 mg Daily 500 mg Daily 512 mg Daily
  77 Number of Patients: 77 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 5 Number of Patients: 5 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 81 Number of Patients: 81 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 567 Number of Patients: 567 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 8 Number of Patients: 8 8 Number of Patients: 8 4 Number of Patients: 4 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1  

Duration

How long current patients have been taking Riluzole or how long patients were taking Riluzole before stopping.

Currently taking Riluzole

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
11
26
34
85
100
160

Stopped taking Riluzole

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
14
26
25
25
16
28
Why Patients Stopped Taking Riluzole (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Side effects too severe 60 45% Side effects too severe: 45%
Did not seem to work 38 28% Did not seem to work: 28%
Other 22 16% Other: 16%
Doctor's advice 16 12% Doctor's advice: 12%
Expense 16 12% Expense: 12%
Personal research 12 9% Personal research: 9%
Not indicated 10 7% Not indicated: 7%
Course of treatment ended 3 2% Course of treatment ended: 2%

Patient Reported Evaluations

Results from 45 patient evaluations. See the overall results and all individual evaluations.

Efficacy (Effect based on reason taken)

Moderate 12% 5
Slight 7% 3
None 5% 2
Can't tell 77% 33

Slow my ALS progress

Side-effects (as an overall problem)

Severe 9% 4
Moderate 11% 5
Mild 9% 4
None 71% 32

Top reported side-effects include: Fatigue, Muscle weakness, Loose stools

Summary results are based on 45 individual responses. For more information, see overall results for Adherence, Burden and Cost.

Individual Patient Reported Evaluations (2 of 45)

  • Boo Boo
    Sex: F
    Mouth/throat: mild
    Arms: none
    Chest: none
    Legs: none
    See profile
  • Boo Boo
  • by Boo Boo
    Jun 16, 2007
  • EfficacyCan't tell
  • Side-effectsSevere
  • Slow my ALS progress

  • SIONZ
    Sex: F
    Mouth/throat: none
    Arms: none
    Chest: none
    Legs: none
    See profile
  • SIONZ
  • by SIONZ
    Aug 19, 2008
  • EfficacyCan't tell
  • Side-effectsNone
  • Slow my ALS progress

See all evaluation results for Riluzole



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