Riluzole is a medication used to treat amyotropic lateral sclerosis. Riluzole delays the onset of ventilator- dependence or tracheotomy in some people and may increase survival by two to three months. Riluzole is available in tablet and liquid form. Riluzole preferentially blocks TTX sensitive sodium channels which are associated with damaged neutrons.
Riluzole has also been reported to directly inhibit the kainate and NMDA receptors.The drug has also been shown to postsynaptically potentiate GABA/A receptors an allosteric binding site. However, the action of riluzole on glutamate receptors have been controversial, as no binding of the drug to any known sites has been shown for them. In addition, as its antiglutamatergic action is still detectable in the presence of sodium channel blockers, it is also uncertain whether or not it acts via this way. Rather, its ability to stimulate…
