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Rilutek

  • Generic Name: riluzole
  • Brand Name: Rilutek

side effects drug center rilutek (riluzole) drug - patient side effects and images

Rilutek Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Rilutek, Tiglutik

Generic Name: riluzole

What is riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Riluzole is used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Riluzole is not a cure for ALS, but it may delay progression of the disease and prolong your life.

Riluzole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the riluzole side effects of riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using riluzole and call your doctor at once if you have:

Side effects may be more likely to occur in people of Japanese descent.

Common side effects may include:

  • increased blood pressure;
  • numbness or tingling around your mouth;
  • weakness;
  • dizziness;
  • stomach pain, nausea; or
  • breathing problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Rilutek Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

You should not use riluzole if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Riluzole may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Riluzole is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take riluzole on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Riluzole may also be given through a PEG feeding tube.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

You will need frequent medical tests.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the liquid medicine upright and do not freeze. Throw away any unused liquid after 15 days.

Rilutek Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

What happens if I miss a dose (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, problems with thinking or memory, coma, tremors, or blue lips or fingers.

What should I avoid while taking riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Avoid smoking. Smoking cigarettes may make riluzole less effective.

What other drugs will affect riluzole (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Riluzole can harm your liver, especially if you also use certain medicines for infections, high cholesterol, seizures, birth control, hormone replacement, or pain or arthritis (including Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve).

Other drugs may affect riluzole, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information (Rilutek, Tiglutik)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about riluzole.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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