IT IS USED TO EXTEND LIFE OR THE TIME TO MECHANICAL VENTILATION FOR PATIENTS WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS.
THE MODE OF ACTION OF RILUTEK IS UNKNOWN. ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING, SOME OF WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO ITS EFFECT: 1) AN INHIBITORY EFFECT ON GLUTAMATE RELEASE, 2) INACTIVATION OF VOLTAGE-DEPENDENT SODIUM CHANNELS, AND 3) ABILITY TO INTERFERE WITH INTRACELLULAR EVENTS THAT FOLLOW TRANSMITTER BINDING AT EXCITATORY AMINO ACID RECEPTORS. RILUZOLE HAS ALSO BEEN SHOWN TO DELAY MEDIAN TIME TO DEATH IN A TRANSGENIC MOUSE MODEL OF ALS. THESE MICE EXPRESS HUMAN SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE BEARING ONE OF THE MUTATIONS FOUND IN ONE OF THE FAMILIAL FORMS OF HUMAN ALS. IT IS ALSO NEUROPROTECTIVE