What condition is the drug riluzole used to manage?

Riluzole is primarily indicated for the management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This drug works by inhibiting the release of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, which is believed to be involved in neuronal damage in ALS. By decreasing glutamate levels, riluzole may help to slow the progression of the disease and extend survival or time to tracheostomy in patients with ALS. Therefore, its specific mechanism of action and therapeutic benefits are directly relevant to this condition, making it a critical medication in the treatment landscape for ALS.

In contrast, the other conditions listed—Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease—are managed with different classes of medications that target their specific pathophysiological mechanisms and symptom profiles, but not riluzole.