Riluzole is a member of the benzothiazole class. The chemical designation for riluzole is 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethoxy)benzothiazole. Its molecular formula is C 8 H 5 F 3 N 2 OS, and its molecular weight is 234.2. The chemical structure is: Riluzole is a white to slightly yellow powder that is very soluble in dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and methanol; freely soluble in dichloromethane; sparingly soluble in 0.1 N HCl; and very slightly soluble in water and in 0.1 N NaOH. TIGLUTIK (50 mg/10mL) oral suspension is a slightly brown, opaque, homogeneous suspension containing 50 mg of riluzole per 10 mL of suspension. TIGLUTIK also contains the following inactive ingredients: magnesium aluminum silicate, noncrystallizing sorbitol solution, polyoxyl 20 cetostearyl ether, purified water, saccharin sodium, simethicone emulsion, sodium lauryl sulfate, and xanthan gum. Chemical Structure

What kind of drug is riluzole?

The FDA classifies riluzole as a benzothiazole. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take riluzole with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run riluzole against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is riluzole sold under?

We track 3 riluzole-containing products in the U.S.: Rilutek, Exservan and Tiglutik Kit. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does riluzole come in?

Across the brands we track, riluzole is currently marketed as tablet, film and liquid, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic riluzole?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled riluzole product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Riluzole: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Riluzole is a benzothiazole sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Benzothiazole
Treats: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Available as: Tablet · Film · Liquid
Sold as: 3 products — Rilutek, Exservan and Tiglutik Kit
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
Typical price: about $9 for a 30-count supply

How riluzole is dosed

From the FDA label for Rilutek (application NDA020599). Other riluzole products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Recommended dosage: 50 mg (10 mL), twice daily, taken orally or via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes (PEG-tubes), every 12 hours ( 2.1 ) Measure serum aminotransferases before and during treatment ( 2.2 , 5.1 ) Take at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Dosage Information The recommended dosage for TIGLUTIK is 50 mg (10 mL) taken orally or via Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy tubes (PEG-tubes) twice daily, every 12 hours. TIGLUTIK should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 2.2 Monitoring to Assess Safety Measure serum aminotransferases before and during treatment with TIGLUTIK [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. 2.3 Important Administration Instructions Gently shake the TIGLUTIK bottle for at least 30 seconds before administration.Gently shake the TIGLUTIK bottle for at least 30 seconds before administration. TIGLUTIK can be administered by mouth or via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes (PEG-tubes). Both silicone and polyurethane PEG tubes can be used. See the Instructions for Use for further administration details.See the Instructions for Use for further administration details.

Riluzole side effects

The following adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling: Hepatic Injury [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Neutropenia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Interstitial Lung Disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 5% and greater than placebo) were oral hypoesthesia, asthenia, nausea, decreased lung function, hypertension, and abdominal pain ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact ITF Pharma Inc. at 1-800-664-1490 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Controlled Clinical Trials of Riluzole Tablets In the placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with ALS (Study 1 and 2), a total of 313 patients received riluzole 50 mg twice daily [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. The most common adverse reactions in riluzole-treated patients (in at least 5% of patients and more frequently than on placebo) were asthenia, nausea, decreased lung function, hypertension, and abdominal pain. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation in the…

Every riluzole product we track (3)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Riluzole products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Rilutek	72/100	Prescription	Tablet	Generic	$9	View →
2	Exservan	Not yet rated	Prescription	Film	Generic	$9

What riluzole pills look like

Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.

Riluzole pill imprints
Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
795	50 mg	white	oval	—
795	50 mg	white	oval	—

Frequently asked questions

What is riluzole?: Riluzole is a member of the benzothiazole class. The chemical designation for riluzole is 2-amino-6-(trifluoromethoxy)benzothiazole. Its molecular formula is C 8 H 5 F 3 N 2 OS, and its molecular weight is 234.2. The chemical structure is: Riluzole is a white to slightly yellow powder that is very soluble in dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, and methanol; freely soluble in dichloromethane; sparingly soluble in 0.1 N HCl; and very slightly soluble in water and in 0.1 N NaOH. TIGLUTIK (50 mg/10mL) oral suspension is a slightly brown, opaque, homogeneous suspension containing 50 mg of riluzole per 10 mL of suspension. TIGLUTIK also contains the following inactive ingredients: magnesium aluminum silicate, noncrystallizing sorbitol solution, polyoxyl 20 cetostearyl ether, purified water, saccharin sodium, simethicone emulsion, sodium lauryl sulfate, and xanthan gum. Chemical Structure
What kind of drug is riluzole?: The FDA classifies riluzole as a benzothiazole. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take riluzole with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run riluzole against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is riluzole sold under?: We track 3 riluzole-containing products in the U.S.: Rilutek, Exservan and Tiglutik Kit. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does riluzole come in?: Across the brands we track, riluzole is currently marketed as tablet, film and liquid, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Riluzole drug interactions

Strong to moderate CYP1A2 inhibitors: Co-administration may increase TIGLUTIK-associated adverse reactions ( 7.1 ) Strong to moderate CYP1A2 inducers: Co-administration may result in decreased efficacy ( 7.2 ) Hepatotoxic drugs: TIGLUTIK-treated patients that take other hepatotoxic drugs may be at increased risk for hepatotoxicity ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Agents that may Increase Riluzole Blood Concentrations CYP1A2 Inhibitors Co-administration of riluzole (a CYP1A substrate) with CYP1A2 inhibitors was not evaluated in a clinical trial; however, in vitro findings suggest an increase in riluzole exposure is likely. The concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP1A2 inhibitors (e.g., ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, fluvoxamine, methoxsalen, mexiletine, oral contraceptives, thiabendazole, vemurafenib, zileuton) with TIGLUTIK may increase the risk of TIGLUTIK - associated adverse reactions [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.2 Agents that may Decrease Riluzole Plasma Concentrations CYP1A2 Inducers Co-administration of riluzole (a CYP1A substrate) with CYP1A2 inducers was not evaluated in a clinical trial; however, in vitro findings suggest a decrease in riluzole exposure is likely. Lower exposures may result in decreased efficacy [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.3 Hepatotoxic Drugs Clinical trials in ALS patients excluded patients on concomitant medications which were potentially hepatotoxic…