RILUTEK (riluzole)

Health Canada approved RILUTEK (riluzole) for use in Canada, and it is available in all provinces and territories through their public formularies. A generic version of RILUTEK (riluzole) is also available.

RILUTEK (riluzole) is an oral therapy available in tablet form for the treatment of ALS.

The medication’s exact mechanism of action is not fully known, but it is theorized that it blocks glutamate signaling in nerve cells. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, a type of messenger molecule released by nerve cells for cell-to-cell communication. When released in excess, glutamate is believed to contribute to motor neuron degeneration in ALS. As a result, reducing glutamate levels is speculated to slow the progression of symptoms.

RILUTEK in clinical trials was shown to extend survival for people living with ALS and delay the need for mechanical ventilation. However, it is not a cure for ALS, and patients will still progress while undergoing treatment. This medication cannot reverse nerve damage that has already occurred.