Insulin
Insulin treatment for ALS is an intriguing area for future research. However, the risks of insulin administration are significant and potentially lethal. Currently, there is no clinical evidence to support its use in PALS. Therefore, we cannot endorse insulin as a way to slow, stop, or reverse ALS progression at this time.
Caffeine
Caffeine is inexpensive, reasonably safe at doses of under 400 mg daily, and has plausible mechanisms by which it could slow ALS progression. However, data from pre-clinical models are contradictory and a two cohort studies showed no clear relationship between caffeine intake and ALS progression. Based on all this, we cannot endorse caffeine as anALS […]
Astaxanthin
There are theoretical mechanisms supporting the potential role of astaxanthin in the treatment of ALS, however, there are no ALS specific preclinical data exploring this treatment. One verified “ALS reversal” occurred while taking astaxanthin in the setting of a cocktail of various other therapies an association that does not prove causality. There have been no […]
Ozone
Ozone therapy has possible mechanisms for treating ALS. A preclinical study in very small numbers of mTDP43 mice (which has yet to be peerreviewed) suggested benefits on motor function and survival (21,22); however, these benefits were not seen in mSOD1 mice (20). One verified “ALS reversal” occurred on a cocktail of alternative therapies including ozone […]
Rituximab
ALSUntangled reviews alternative and off label treatments on behalf of people with ALS who ask about them. Here we review rituximab, a drug which specifically depletes B lymphocytes. We show a current lack of evidence for a role of these cells in ALS progression. The one patient we found who described using Rituximab for their […]
Anti-Mycobacterial Antibiotics
There is a theorized association between MAP and ALS, and two published case reports described improvements in ALS like conditions (both with atypical features) after treatment with antimycobacterial antibiotics. Based on these, we believe it would be reasonable to perform chest imaging in PALS who have features of their history or exam that are a […]
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 and prolong survival, but the specific contribution of NaPB toward this effect is unclear. Butyrates appear reasonably safe for use in humans. Based on the […]
Ketogenic Diets
Ketogenic diets have plausible mechanisms for treating ALS. One flawed preclinical study and two Patients Like Me participants reported benefits; these were not independently verified. Two other Patients Like Me participants and one patient underthe care of an ALSUntangled investigator did not show benefits. A trial of a ketogenic diet was only able to enroll […]