Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment
Amyotrophic sclerosis is a disease of nervous system that affects the brain cells that is motor neurons. The disease may affect both upper and lower motor neurons giving muscular weakness and progressive wasting of muscles. Degeneration of the neurons ends into causing muscle loss and muscle weakness and may spreads to other part of the body.
Mostly the disease occurs between age of 35 to 65, usually in men rather than women. You may find various forms of Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis and motor neuron diseases with similar symptoms.
How it can be cured?
ALS is the disease that can not be cured clearly or there is no any cure that will give permanent cure for the disease. But, it may help the person to maintain independence and strength, avoids complications and manage symptoms. When the person got increase in disability, the treatment helps by providing emotional support.
There are two types of therapists such as occupational therapists and physical therapists, which help to maintain function and strength. Symptoms of the ALS can be similar to the symptoms of the other diseases. However, there are some appropriate tests that help to manage the possibility of other conditions. Electromyography (EMG) is one of the tests that detect the electrical activity in muscles using a special recording technique. The EMG findings are very helpful to support to treat the ALS.
There is one common test that measures nerve conduction velocity (NCV) that helps to find out some specific abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive procedure and is used to take detailed images of spinal cord and the brain using radio waves and magnetic field.
Below are some medicines that are used to treat ALS:
- Amitriptyline or Fluvoxamine (Luvox): It helps to control emotions and emotional lability.
- Quinine, Benzodiazepines, Phenytoin relives muscle cramps.
- Baclofen (Lioresal), Danzepam (Valium), Tizanidine (Zanaflex) helps to get relieve spasms, twitching and muscle stiffness.
- Antidepressant medicines that help to reduce depression, poor appetite, fatigue and sleeplessness.
- Morphine that is used when there is breathing problems (dyspnea).
- Diazepam or lorazepam is the Antianxiety medicines, which are helpful to relive anxiety, which was caused because of breathing problems.
- Pain relievers are helpful to reduce muscle pain.
If the person is going through the problem getting enough food or taking medicines, in such situation a tube can be used to insert in the stomach through the skin. Thus, the person may get sufficient nutrition and take medicines with the help of tube.
Breathing devices may be used when there is affection to the muscles of the chest. At the beginning the sufficient oxygen can be provided through a nasal cannula placed in the nostrils. The people with mild breathing problems may use nonsurgical forms of ventilation that includes noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), which provides extra oxygen or air through face mask.
There is another medicine named Riluzole, which is the only medicine that is permitted for the treatment of ALS. However, it is not known that how the medicine actually works. The medicine may help to slow the release of some certain chemicals that are responsible for playing an important role in ALS.
However, there are some disadvantages of taking this medicine. The medicine fails to improve the quality of life and symptoms. Some people may get very good results by taking Riluzole but some may face side effects such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, coughing and weakness. All these side effects occur because riluzole can give damage or can cause liver problems. To avoid this, people under treatment with Riluzole have to check their liver on regular basis.
