This will be a single center, open label pilot study to assess the safety and tolerability of terazosin (TZ) at a dose of 5 milligrams (mg) per os (PO) daily for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The primary outcome of this study is to determine whether TZ increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in ALS. The investigators will measure adverse outcomes, safety, and tolerability of taking TZ. Procedures include blood draws, spirometry, lumbar punctures, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans, questionnaires, and physical examinations. TZ will be titrated up to 5 mg PO daily. This is a pilot study and is not powered to assess efficacy of this medication. The investigators' hope is that this study will guide future studies of this (and similar) medications for the disease modification of ALS. This study also aims to learn more about how patients produce and use energy and if TZ can help to reverse energy deficits that appear in ALS.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
Titrating up to 5 mg PO at bedtime. Trial participants will take terazosin for 12 weeks.
University of Iowa Health Care
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
RECRUITINGChange in ATP levels
Mean percent change from baseline to 12 weeks in whole-blood ATP and brain glycolytic rate using FDG-PET imaging
Time frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
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