Diagnosis and Treatment

What help is available?

Many of the symptoms and subsequent problems can be effectively alleviated by your consultant or G.P. In addition, other professionals such as the physiotherapist, occupational therapist, nurse, social worker, speech therapist and dietician, can be an invaluable source of help. A range of leaflets dealing with specific problem areas is available from the
association on request.

What is Rilutek?

Rilutek (riluzole) is the first and, to date, only drug licensed for the treatment of Motor Neurone Disease. It is not a cure, it does not prevent, halt or reverse the disease but it has been shown to have an effect in extending life in both the limb and bulbar onset forms of MND. In studies, patients taking Rilutek were shown to have an increased life expectancy.

Life Expectancy

This is variable from three to five years (or occasionally longer) after onset, depending on the activity of the disease and the particular muscle groups affected.