Exservan vs. Rilutek

• Are Exservan and Rilutek the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Exservan?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Rilutek?
• What Is Exservan?
• What Is Rilutek?
• What drugs interact with Exservan?
• What drugs interact with Rilutek?
• How Should Exservan Be Taken?
• How Should Rilutek Be Taken?

Exservan (riluzole) and Rilutek (riluzole) are benzothiazole class drugs used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Side effects of Exservan and Rilutek that are similar include oral numbness, weakness/lethargy, nausea, vomiting, decreased lung function, stomach/abdominal pain, and dizziness.

Side effects of Exservan that are different from Rilutek include high blood pressure (hypertension), joint pain, dry mouth, insomnia, and itching.

Side effects of Rilutek that are different from Exservan include drowsiness, spinning sensation, diarrhea, constipation, muscle stiffness, headache, lightheadedness, tiredness, loss of appetite, and runny nose.

Both Exservan and Rilutek may interact with methyldopa, birth control pills or other hormones, allopurinol, and sulfasalazine.

Exservan may also interact with ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fluvoxamine, methoxsalen, mexiletine, thiabendazole, vemurafenib, zileuton, and CYP1A2 inducers.

Rilutek may also interact with acetaminophen, amitriptyline, auranofin, cancer medications, omeprazole, theophylline, tuberculosis medications, methotrexate, ACE inhibitors, antibiotics, antifungals, cholesterol medications, HIV/AIDS medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and seizure medications.

Side effects of Exservan include:

• ciprofloxacin,
• enoxacin,
• fluvoxamine,
• methoxsalen,
• mexiletine,
• oral contraceptives,
• thiabendazole,
• vemurafenib,
• zileuton,
• CYP1A2 inducers,
• allopurinol,
• methyldopa, and
• sulfasalazine

Common side effects of Rilutek include:

• weakness,
• drowsiness,
• nausea,
• stomach pain,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• decreased lung function,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• muscle stiffness,
• numbness or tingly feeling in or around your mouth,
• headache,
• lightheadedness,
• tiredness,
• vomiting,
• loss of appetite, or
• runny nose.

Exservan (riluzole) is a benzothiazole class drug used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Rilutek (riluzole) is a benzothiazole drug indicated for the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Rilutek is available as a generic. Rilutek extends survival and/or time to tracheostomy.

Exservan may interact with other medicines such as:

• ciprofloxacin,
• enoxacin,
• fluvoxamine,
• methoxsalen,
• mexiletine,
• oral contraceptives,
• thiabendazole,
• vemurafenib,
• zileuton,
• CYP1A2 inducers,
• allopurinol,
• methyldopa, and
• sulfasalazine

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received.

Rilutek may interact with acetaminophen, allopurinol, amitriptyline, auranofin, cancer medications, methyldopa, omeprazole, sulfasalazine, theophylline, tuberculosis medications, birth control pills or other hormones, methotrexate, ACE inhibitors, antibiotics, antifungals, cholesterol medications, HIV/AIDS medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or seizure medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Rilutek; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. It is unknown if Rilutek passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The recommended dosage of Exservan is 50 mg twice daily, taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Rilutek is available as 50mg tablets; the dose is 50 mg every 12 hours.