Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) And Breastfeeding

I hope in our lifetime we find a cure for ALS. What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS? Amyotrophic gets its name as follows: A stands for, Myo refers to muscle and Trophic means nourishment., therefore, no muscle nourishment. When a muscle has no nourishment, it atrophies or wastes away. Lateral identifies the area in the human's body, their spinal cord, where a portion of the nerve cells that signals and controls the muscles are located. As this area degenerates, it starts to scar and harden, sclerosis, in the region. Sometimes ALS is called Lou Gehrig's Disease. Unfortunately, it is a rapidly progressive disease, a fatal neurological disease that attacks the neurons or nerve cells which are responsible for controlling our voluntary muscles movement. These muscles may include the arms, legs, or face. In fact, it can gradually destroy our motor neurons and can be fatal.That is why The Ice Bucket Challenge is a blessing to many who suffer or who have family members who are suffering from this disease because from all this money has come awareness of this disease and a possible road to a cure. The drug Riluzole (Rilutek) is the only drug approved by the FDA for ALS. It slows the disease down. Speak to your doctor if you are breastfeeding because this drug passes through into the human milk. Additionally, this drug can lower your white blood cells and increase your chances of getting an infection. Additionally, animals, especially rodents, treated with this drug, have shown significant improvement in their motor scores. There are no adequate studies at this time done on Riluzole and breastfeeding. Together with your doctor, you can make an informed decision weighing the benefits of taking this drug as opposed to the potential risks it may have on you and your baby while breastfeeding.Many feel that a mom should not breastfeed while taking this drug. There are side effects to this drug Riluzole. Some of the side effects are: pneumonia, abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness, decreased liver function, nausea, rash, itching, swelling, vertigo, vomiting, and diarrhea. There are many clinical trials underway testing new drugs and hoping to find a way for people to live a better quality life. There are tests being done especially rodents to test drug-like compounds, gene therapy, antibodies and cell-based therapies. Clinical trials offer hope for people to help further our study on ALS. In conclusion, always contact your doctor when you want to breastfeed and you are taking medications. Discuss with your doctor the risk and benefit of the drug, Riluzole. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Therefore, consult with your doctor before breastfeeding. I hope in our lifetime we will see a cure for ALS and be able to figure out what causes this disease and how we can prevent and help people live a more productive life with it. I am happy we have had The Ice Bucket Challenge and now the world is more aware of ALS. I hope with the money received, we will find a cure.Where can I get information? ALS Association1275 K Street, N.W. Suite 1050Washington, D.C. 20005advocacy@alsa-national.orgtel: 202-407-8580fax: 202-289-6801