Medical Treatment and Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

      How to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? Here's explanation Medical Treatment and Therapy of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. No drug has been found to slow the progression of ALS. However, the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has approved the first treatment for this disease is Riluzole. Riluzole is believed to reduce damage to motor neurons by decreasing the release of glutamate  Clinical trials which performed to ALS patients, showed that administration of Riluzole can extend a patient's life until a couple of months, especially patients with difficulty swallowing. 

        This drug also extends the time before a patient requiring ventilator support. Riluzole does not repair the damage that has occurred in motor neurons. Patients taking riluzole should be monitored heart function and other possible side effects. However, the first treatment of this disease offers hope that someday the progression of ALS can be slowed with a new treatment or a combination of drugs such as baclofen and Tizanidine for spasticity.

A. Pharmacological 

Causative Pharmacotherapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

 Pharmacotherapy for Symptoms and Signs of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

B. Non-Pharmacological
       Other treatments for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Supportive care is the best option Non-pharmacological therapy with a multidisciplinary team consisting of several professionals such as doctors, pharmacy, fisioterapist, social workers and home care and nursing home.

1. Physical therapy
      One side effect of this disease is a spasm or uncontrolled muscle contractions. Physical therapy can not restore normal muscle function, but it can help in preventing painful muscle contraction and in maintaining normal muscle strength and function. Physical therapy should involve family members, so they can help keep this terpai for ALS patients.

2. Speech therapy
       Speech therapy can also help in maintaining a person's ability to speak. During the maintenance ALS, speech therapists can help patients develop ways to respond yes or no questions, with the eye or with other non-verbal ways, and can recommend aids such as speech synthesizers and computer-based communication systems. Methods and devices can help patients communicate when they can no longer speak or produce sound.

      Swallowing therapy is also important, to help with swallowing when eating and drinking. This treatment helps prevent choking. It is recommended to the patient the patient's head position and the position of the tongue. Patients with ALS also have to change the consistency of the food to aid swallowing.

3. Occupational therapy
         The goal of this therapy is the order for the patient to perform activities / day-to- day work easier without the help of others. Physical therapy and special equipment can increase patient independence and safety of the patient during the course of ALS. Aerobic exercise as simple as walking and swimming and cycling can strengthen the muscles that are not calm, improve heart health, maintain fitness and help patients fight depression. Stretching exercises and range of motion can help patients prevent painful spasticity and contractures in muscles. Physical trainer can recommend exercises that provide these benefits without working muscles may suggest that occupational berlebihan. Occupational Therapist can suggest devices such as walkers and wheelchairs separately help patients conserve energy and still mobile .

4. Respiratory therapy
       When decreasing ability to breathe, a respiratory therapist is needed to measure breathing capacity. This test should be done regularly. To make it easier to breathe, the patient should not lie down after eating. Patients should not eat too much, because they can increase abdominal pressure and prevent the development of the diaphragm .

       While sleeping, head should be elevated 15 to 30 degrees so that the abdominal organs away from the diaphragm. When the respiratory capacity falls below 70 %, noninvasive respiratory support should be provided . This involves a mask that is connected to a mechanical ventilator. When breathing capacity falls below 50 %, a permanent hook - ups for ventilators should be considered .
       When muscles are instrumental in breathing weaken, use of nocturnal ventilator (intermittent positive pressure ventilation [IPPV] or bilevel positive airway pressure [BiPAP]) can be used to help breathing while sleeping. When the muscles are no longer able to maintain oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, these tools can be used full-time.

      Patients may eventually consider the use of mechanical ventilation (respirator), in which the engine develops and deflates the lungs. To be effective, it needs a tube that goes through the nose or mouth into the trachea, and for long-term use, with the tracheotomy surgery, plastic breathing tube is inserted directly into the trachea through the neck opening.

       Respiratory therapists can help caregivers in tasks such as operate and maintain the respirator. Home nurses not only provide medical care, but also to teach caregivers about feeding through the tube and moving patients to avoid painful skin problems and contractures. Hospital nurses working in consultation with a doctor to ensure proper treatment, pain control, and other care affecting the quality of life of patients who wish to be treated at home. The team also provides advice and information to patients and caregivers about end of life issues