Riluzole serum concentrations in patients with ALS: associations with side effects and symptoms.
Riluzole exerts a dose-dependent effect on survival of patients with ALS and, although serum levels show a high interindividual variability, is usually prescribed in a fixed dose. In this study, riluzole serum levels and area under the curve per kilogram of body weight (AUC/kg) of 169 patients with ALS showed a high interindividual variability. Patients with high serum levels and AUC/kg more often had diarrhea but less often had fasciculations and muscle stiffness. It may therefore be advantageous to raise the riluzole dose in patients with low riluzole serum concentrations without the risk of serious side effects.
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
G J
GJ
Groeneveld
H J M
HJ
Van Kan
S
S
Kalmijn
J H
JH
Veldink
H-J
HJ
Guchelaar
J H J
JH
Wokke
L H
LH
Van den Berg
D000367:Age Factors; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019782:Riluzole / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019782:Riluzole