The standard treatment for Lou Gerhig's Disease is Riluzole, which your friend was undoubtedly prescribed. This treatment has been demonstrated to be the most effective for slowing the progression of the disease. Since there is not a consensus on the etiology of ALS, and because of the poor prognosis, it would be wise to treat every possible cause seriously. This approach might be aptly described as a carpet bombing approach, and would require an exceedingly open minded doctor---or the needed will and finances to procure these drugs independently.
If mutated gene is causing oxidative stress:
The following should control inflammation, and neuroinflammation in particular
-Minocycline
-Actos
-Avandia
-Methylcobalamin
-Steroids
-NSAIDs
-Mitochondrial supplements--benfotiamine, carnosine, acetyl canitine, and alpha lipoic acid.
If the pathogenesis is believed to be provoked by a viral infection, and assuming that virus is a part of the herpes family, then I would suggest high doses of an antiviral like Valtrex. Further, there is some evidence that an anti-retroviral cocktail---comparable to that used against the AIDS virus---may improve the prognosis of ALS patients. Anti-viral supplements, while of relatively little use, would not hurt, and may include: AHCC and medicinal mushrooms.
If neurotoxins are believed to be the culprit, then intravenous glutathione therapy, and the administration of the toxin binding drug Questran would seem to be the most logical choices. This could be accompanied by regular intravenous doses of a broad spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline or the fluoroquinolone class. Perhaps the intravenous administration of antiparasitic drug may be of some use.
Heavy metals may also play a role, and if an elevation is confirmed by testing, the intravenous use of chelating agents like EDTA, DMSA, or DMPS would be advised.
If an alteration in the body's immune response is believed to be the cause, then a powerful immunosuppressive like Rapamycin would be indicated.
Finally, for the cognitive symptoms, I would suggest a psychostimulant, MAO inhibitor, or a acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
Again, if it were me, I would treat every possible cause as a certainty, and do everything within my power to secure the requisite agents for treatment.
Edited by Rol82, 04 June 2010 - 11:49 PM.