N-Acetylcysteine
ALSUntangled #82: N-acetylcysteine While NAC has theoretical therapeutic promise in ALS due to its antioxidant properties and ability to modulate oxidative stress and restore mitochondrial function, several case studies failed…
Trial: F
Grade F: The only trials available show no benefit
Glucocorticoid Corticosteroids
In conclusion, corticosteroids are a class of medications with wide ranging clinical uses and well studied effects on the immune system. ALS progression is associated with changes in immune system…
Butyrates
Butyrates have plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression and positive pre clinical studies. One trial suggests that sodium phenylbutyrate (NaPB) in combination with Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can slow ALS progression…
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is safe and inexpensive. As an antioxidant, it has a plausible mechanism for influencing the course of neurodegenerative diseases. Two flawed preclinical studies by the same group showed…
Melatonin
Melatonin has plausible mechanisms, some positive (and some negative) pre-clinical data, and two case reports in which it was part of a cocktail of treatments associated with recovery of lost…
Azathioprine
As an immunosuppressant drug, AZA has a plausible mechanism for slowing the progression of ALS. However, there is no pre-clinical data to support its use and two clinical trials did…
L-Carnitine
There are good theoretical mechanisms for carnitines, some preclinical evidence forLC and ALCAR, and a single clinical trial that suggested ALCAR could slow disease progression in PALS. All three carnitines…
Vitamin E
Vitamin E (a-tocopherol) is perhaps the most studied supplement in the history of ALS and was taken by one of the most famous ALS patients. Vitamin E has mechanistic potential…