Home > Drugs and Supplements > Riluzole
Printer friendly viewPrint
Bookmark and Share

PubMed Health. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

AHFS Consumer Medication Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 2000-2011.

AHFS Consumer Medication Information.

Riluzole(ril' yoo zole)

Last reviewed: September 1, 2010.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Riluzole is used to slow the progress of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease). The drug also may delay the need for a tracheostomy (breathing tube), but it is not a cure for ALS.

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How should this medicine be used?

Riluzole comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken twice a day, every 12 hours. You should take it at the same time each day (usually in the morning and in the evening). Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take riluzole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Riluzole slows progression of ALS but does not cure it. Continue to take riluzole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking riluzole without talking to your doctor.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking riluzole,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to riluzole or any other drugs.

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially amitriptyline (Elavil), caffeine-containing products, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ofloxacin (Floxin), omeprazole (Prilosec), rifampin (Rifadin), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.

  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had blood disorders or anemia or kidney or liver disease.

  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking riluzole, call your doctor.

  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking riluzole.

  • you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.

  • remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

  • tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Take riluzole on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). Do not drink or eat a lot of caffeine-containing products, such as coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate. Avoid eating charcoal-broiled foods.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Riluzole may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • dizziness

  • tiredness

  • upset stomach

  • stomach pain

  • diarrhea

  • muscle weakness or aches

  • loss of appetite

  • headache

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

  • difficulty breathing

  • fever

  • depression

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature, away from light and excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to riluzole.

Riluzole can affect your body's ability to fight infection. If you have any illness, especially one with a fever, call your doctor.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. represents that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. does not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2011. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.

The following brand names are from RxNorm, a standardized nomenclature for clinical drugs produced by the National Library of Medicine:

Brand names

  • Rilutek

What works?

  • Riluzole for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND) Riluzole for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND)
    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND) is a fatal neurological disease which produces paralysis of the limb, swallowing and breathing muscles. There is no available treatment to stop or reverse its progressive course. In this review, we examine the evidence from four randomized clinical trials involving 1477 people with ALS. The methodological quality of the trials was acceptable and three of the trials were easily comparable (although one of them included older patients with more advanced ALS). The searches for this review were last updated in 2011, when we found no new randomized controlled trials. The results indicate that riluzole 100 mg probably prolongs median survival in people with ALS by two to three months and the safety of the drug is not a major concern. The evidence from randomized controlled trials indicates that participants taking riluzole probably survive longer than participants taking placebo. The beneficial effects are very modest and the drug is expensive. There was a small beneficial effect on both bulbar and limb function, but not on muscle strength. Adverse effects from riluzole are relatively minor and for the most part reversible after stopping the drug.
See all (5)...

Learn about...

Conditions of interest

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
    Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.
  • Spinal cord trauma
    Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.
  • Multiple sclerosis
    Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
    Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something (compulsions).
  • Melanoma
    Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease.

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

See more...
You are here: NCBI > Literature > PubMed Health
Write to the Help Desk