Related Experiment Videos
A clinical trial of dextromethorphan in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
1Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, St Hans Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
Introduction:
Although the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unknown, excitotoxicity mediated by glutamate has been implicated. Dextromethorphan is a NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist with neuroprotective properties.
Material And Methods:
The effect of treatment with dextromethorphan (150 mg daily) in ALS patients was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Forty-five patients were included in the analysis.
Results:
At the end of the treatment period, 12 months after randomization, 15 patients (65%) in the placebo group and 12 patients (55 %) in the dextromethorphan group were still alive (log rank test, P=0.49). Rates of disease progression, as expressed by rates of decline in pulmonary function and in functional disability, were similar in both groups except for a significantly less pronounced rate of decline in the ability scores for the lower extremities in the dextromethorphan group.
Conclusion:
Treatment with a relatively low dose of dextromethorphan did not result in an improvement in 12-month survival in ALS.
Insights
Dextromethorphan did not improve survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients over 12 months. While it showed a trend toward slower decline in lower extremity function, overall survival and disease progression were similar between groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis involves excitotoxicity mediated by glutamate.
- Dextromethorphan, an NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist, exhibits neuroprotective potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of dextromethorphan in treating ALS patients.
- To assess the impact of dextromethorphan on survival and disease progression in ALS.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted.
- Forty-five ALS patients received either dextromethorphan (150 mg daily) or a placebo for 12 months.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in 12-month survival was observed between the dextromethorphan and placebo groups (P=0.49).
- Disease progression rates, including pulmonary function and functional disability, were comparable between groups.
- A trend towards a less pronounced decline in lower extremity function scores was noted in the dextromethorphan group.
Conclusions:
- Low-dose dextromethorphan treatment did not improve 12-month survival in ALS patients.
- Further research may be needed to explore dextromethorphan's potential effects on specific ALS symptoms or at different dosages.