There are currently two drugs that have been approved in the United States to treat people living with ALS—in addition to one that treats people who have a specific genetic mutation. These drugs can modestly slow functional decline and help people live longer, though they do not stop or reverse ALS. Researchers are optimistic that progress is accelerating, that more drugs will be approved in the near future, and that ALS will eventually become a treatable disease.
Before deciding to take any drug, discuss the potential benefits and burdens (side effects, cost, time spent, etc.) with your neurologist—ideally one who specializes in ALS and works at an ALS clinic. Your neurologist should make sure that you don’t have any underlying health conditions and aren’t taking any medications that would disqualify you from taking any one of these drugs.
Before deciding to take any drug, discuss the potential benefits and burdens (side effects, cost, time spent, etc.) with your neurologist—ideally one who specializes in ALS and works at an ALS clinic. Your neurologist should make sure that you don’t have any underlying health conditions and aren’t taking any medications that would disqualify you from taking any one of these drugs.
ALS Drug Relyvrio Removed from the Market
Due to disappointing results from the Phase 3 clinical trial, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals announced on April 4, 2024 that it has removed AMX0035 (Relyvrio/Albrioza) from the market in the U.S. and Canada. Patients currently taking the drug may continue using it for free in consultation with their physician. Learn more
Below are summaries of the drugs for ALS that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Rilutek® (riluzole)
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FDA Approval: 1995
Drugmaker: Sanofi-Aventis Benefits: Initial studies showed that riluzole helped people live an average of three months more, though increased survival time may be longer. |
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How It Works: Riluzole reduces glutamate, an amino acid that is believed to damage motor neurons when its levels are high.
Administration: You take either a pill, liquid, or dissolvable oral film twice a day.
Potential Side Effects: Few. Some people experience mild nausea or fatigue when starting riluzole. Others notice a change in the way things taste. In rare cases, it can affect the liver, which is why doctors monitor liver function with simple blood tests.
Cost and access: Riluzole is inexpensive, covered by most insurances, fairly easy to get approved, and available at regular pharmacies.
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Administration: You take either a pill, liquid, or dissolvable oral film twice a day.
Potential Side Effects: Few. Some people experience mild nausea or fatigue when starting riluzole. Others notice a change in the way things taste. In rare cases, it can affect the liver, which is why doctors monitor liver function with simple blood tests.
Cost and access: Riluzole is inexpensive, covered by most insurances, fairly easy to get approved, and available at regular pharmacies.
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Radicava® (edaravone)
FDA Approval: 2017
Drugmaker: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Benefits: An initial clinical trial in Japan indicated that Radicava® slowed ALS functional decline by 33%, though subsequent studies have yielded mixed results. Data on its effectiveness is still being gathered.
How It Works: Radicava® reduces oxidative stress, which can damage motor neurons.
Administration: Radicava® was administered intravenously until Radicava ORS®, a more user-friendly oral gel, was approved in 2022. The ongoing treatment cycle involves taking this drug ten out of 14 days, followed by 14 days off.
Potential Side Effects: Few. Most common side effects include bruising, problems walking, headaches, and fatigue. Serious allergic reactions are possible for people with sulfite sensitivity.
Cost and access: Radicava® can be expensive. How much you actually pay will depend on your insurance coverage and the final negotiated price. You will need prior authorization from insurance, which may take a few weeks, and the drug will need to be ordered through a special pharmacy.
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Drugmaker: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Benefits: An initial clinical trial in Japan indicated that Radicava® slowed ALS functional decline by 33%, though subsequent studies have yielded mixed results. Data on its effectiveness is still being gathered.
How It Works: Radicava® reduces oxidative stress, which can damage motor neurons.
Administration: Radicava® was administered intravenously until Radicava ORS®, a more user-friendly oral gel, was approved in 2022. The ongoing treatment cycle involves taking this drug ten out of 14 days, followed by 14 days off.
Potential Side Effects: Few. Most common side effects include bruising, problems walking, headaches, and fatigue. Serious allergic reactions are possible for people with sulfite sensitivity.
Cost and access: Radicava® can be expensive. How much you actually pay will depend on your insurance coverage and the final negotiated price. You will need prior authorization from insurance, which may take a few weeks, and the drug will need to be ordered through a special pharmacy.
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Qalsody® (tofersen)
FDA Approval: 2023 (accelerated approval before Phase 3 trial results)
Drugmaker: Biogen
Benefits: Tofersen can slow the rate of disease progression for the approximately 2% of ALS patients—those who have an SOD1 gene mutation (which can be detected through genetic testing).
How It Works: Tofersen blocks the production of mutated SOD1, thereby lowering the levels of this protein that is toxic to neurons and contributes to disease progression.
Administration: Lumbar injection in the lower back. The first three doses are administered once every 14 days, followed by one maintenance dose every 28 days after that.
Potential Side Effects: Headache, injection-site pain, fatigue, joint pain, increased white blood cells, and muscle pain.
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Drugmaker: Biogen
Benefits: Tofersen can slow the rate of disease progression for the approximately 2% of ALS patients—those who have an SOD1 gene mutation (which can be detected through genetic testing).
How It Works: Tofersen blocks the production of mutated SOD1, thereby lowering the levels of this protein that is toxic to neurons and contributes to disease progression.
Administration: Lumbar injection in the lower back. The first three doses are administered once every 14 days, followed by one maintenance dose every 28 days after that.
Potential Side Effects: Headache, injection-site pain, fatigue, joint pain, increased white blood cells, and muscle pain.
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Nuedexta®
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Nuedexta® does not slow functional decline or help people live longer, but it can help regulate emotional control for ALS patients who experience pseudobulbar affect (PBA), which is characterized by sudden and unpredictable episodes of laughing or crying.
A secondary benefit of this FDA-approved oral medication is that it may improve speech, swallowing, and secretions for some patients whose bulbar muscles have been affected. Patients take two capsules per day. Rare side effects include dizziness, diarrhea, and gas. Learn more on the Nuedexta website. |
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Which of these drugs should I take?Deciding whether or not to take any of these drugs is a very individual decision. Discuss the potential benefits and burdens with your ALS neurologist, learn about each drug, and find out how much you would have to pay out of pocket. Keep in mind that different neurologists may have differing opinions about the effectiveness of each drug.
The drugs outlined above may be taken at the same time, though it is usually a good idea to stagger the introduction of each one by a few weeks so you can attribute any side effects to a particular drug. |
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Alternative Treatments
Some people choose to explore non-pharmaceutical treatments such as supplements, though data is more limited and these treatments are not regulated. If you are considering an off-label treatment, visit the ALSUntangled website for reviews of these treatments as well as a list of red flags to consider for these alternative approaches. Learn more
Are there any other treatments for ALS?
Yes. There are non-drug interventions, particularly non-invasive ventilation (NIV), that can help you live longer than any of the drugs listed above. Attending a multidisciplinary ALS clinic has also been proven to help people with ALS live longer and have a better quality of life.
This page has been reviewed by ALS neurologist Dr. Terry Heiman-Patterson.
