Posted by SLS on February 22, 2005, at 7:38:35
In reply to New_Riluzole_study_published, posted by EERRIICC on February 21, 2005, at 19:34:22
Hi.
I suffer from bipolar depression. I hope riluzole (Rilutek) helps others more than it helped me. Although I didn't experience anything positive, I didn't experience anything untoward either.
Riluzole is prohibitively expensive, and the drug company wants to keep it that way. The company even denied the NIMH request to donate a supply of the drug for their investigation.
Currently the only FDA approved indication for riluzole is for the treatment of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
- Scott.> 1: Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Feb 15;57(4):430-2. Related Articles, Links
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> An open-label trial of the glutamate-modulating agent riluzole in combination with lithium for the treatment of bipolar depression.
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> Zarate CA Jr, Quiroz JA, Singh JB, Denicoff KD, De Jesus G, Luckenbaugh DA, Charney DS, Manji HK.
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> Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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> BACKGROUND: Preclinical and clinical evidence indicate that the glutamatergic system might play a role in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of riluzole, a glutamate-modulating agent, in bipolar depression. METHODS: This was an 8-week add-on study of riluzole in combination with lithium in acutely depressed bipolar patients aged 18 years and older. After open treatment with lithium for a minimum period of 4 weeks, subjects who continued to have a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of >/=20 received riluzole (50-200 mg/day) for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Fourteen bipolar depressed patients entered the study. The linear mixed models for total MADRS score showed a significant treatment effect. No switch into hypomania or mania was observed. Overall, riluzole was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Although preliminary, these results suggest that riluzole might indeed have antidepressant efficacy in subjects with bipolar depression.
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> PMID: 15705360 [PubMed - in process]
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poster:SLS
thread:461518
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