Tamoxifen is reasonably safe, has plausible mechanisms for treating ALS, and has at least one positive preclinical study. One case report and 2 small human trials suggested an association between tamoxifen (at higher doses) and slower ALS progression but this is not enough evidence to recommend this medication as an ALS treatment. Moving forward, we would like to see a larger human ALS clinical trial of tamoxifen at 80mg daily. Interestingly, one study suggests that tamoxifen may decrease a person’s risk for getting ALS. We hope to see this independently replicated.
Patient trials
Curcumin
Oral curcumin is safe, inexpensive, and has at least four potential mechanisms by which it might theoretically be useful in treating PALS. Flawed preclinical studies showed benefits of a curcumin chemical analog in a cell model of ALS, three PALS experienced validated motor improvements on regimens including curcumin (although there are several alternative explanations for these improvements) and there is one small pilot trial showing some benefit of curcumin in PALS. Based on the evidence presented in this review, some of us are planning a trial of Theracurmin at 90 mg twice daily in PALS.
Click here to download the complete review.