Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Clinical Pearl of the Day: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease

ALS is a disease that impacts the parts of the nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement.

Explanation:

• ALS is the most common form of motor neuron disease.
• As these motor neurons are lost, the muscles they control become weak and then nonfunctional, thus leading to muscle weakness, disability, and eventually death.
• ALS usually strikes in late middle age (the late 50s is average) or later.
• ALS results in muscles that are reduced in size (atrophic), weak, and soft, or muscles that are stiff, tight, and spastic.
• Treatment options may include medications such as Rilutek, Radicava, breathing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutitional and psychosocial therapy.

Sources:

• als disease - Google Search
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - Diseases | Muscular Dystrophy Association (mda.org)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic