ALS patients still have no drug to regain muscle strength: expert

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a condition in which the brain cells responsible for movement rapidly degenerate. As the disease progresses, muscle strength declines, eventually leading to paralysis and the inability to move the body.

Is there any way to restore declining muscle strength?

Professor Oh Ki-wook of the Department of Neurology at Hanyang University Medical Center noted that there is currently no medical treatment available to increase muscle strength in ALS patients, as mentioned on the YouTube channel with the same name as the hospital. “Such drugs are the most difficult to develop, and they have not yet been developed,” Professor Oh said.

While there is no way to increase muscle strength in ALS patients, methods exist to slow the rate at which muscle strength declines, depending on the underlying cause.

“Some patients experience muscle weakness due to the disease, while others experience a rapid decline in muscle strength due to malnutrition, leading to significant weight loss. In such cases, proper dietary management can help prevent a rapid decline in muscle strength,” Oh explained.

Is it safe for ALS patients to take other medications for additional health issues alongside their current ALS medications?

“Most medications used for ALS patients do not pose significant issues when taken with other medications,” Professor Oh said. “Since treatment often involves multiple medications to address symptoms, the number of medications can be high, but most of these medications are also used for other conditions.”

Nevertheless, since drug interactions can enhance toxicity when combining current medications with other drugs, it is essential to always carry the prescription for ALS medications when visiting other hospitals, he explained.

“It is advisable to always carry your ALS medication prescription and show it to other medical institutions when seeking treatment,” Oh said. “Since ALS is a rare disease, many doctors are unfamiliar with it. Therefore, they tend to be cautious when prescribing medications. Showing them the prescription with the drug names listed will help them make an informed decision.”

Additionally, ALS can cause stiffness in the body, leading to joint pain in patients. Are there any medications available for this? Professor Oh replied that there are many medications available.

“There are so many options for pain-related medications that it can be overwhelming,” he said. “However, taking a specific medication does not immediately eliminate the pain or guarantee a 100 percent resolution.”

Is there any hope for the development of new drugs to improve muscle strength in ALS patients?

“The drugs developed so far only slow down the progression of the disease. For patients to feel that they are receiving treatment, there needs to be an improvement in muscle strength, but the drugs currently approved do not achieve that level,” Oh said. “However, there are also many clinical trials underway abroad, so it would be best to wait and see."