Method for treating central neuropathic pain

1. A method for treating central neuropathic pain in a subject, comprising administering to the subject the compound (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a dosage amount of about 50 mg to about 600 mg per day for a period of at least one week.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is substantially enantiopure.

3. A method for reducing the susceptibility of a subject to central neuropathic pain, the method comprising administering to the subject the compound (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the subject has a central lesion and/or a disease associated with central neuropathic pain.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the central neuropathic pain is spinal cord injury pain.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered in a dosage effective, upon passing the subject's blood-brain barrier, to provide an amount of the compound in the brain effective for the treatment of central neuropathic pain.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosage amount administered is about 100 mg to about 600 mg per day.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosage amount administered is about 200 mg to about 600 mg per day.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered in no more than three doses per day.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered in a pharmaceutical composition resulting in a plasma concentration of the compound of about 0.1 to about 15 μg/ml (trough) and about 5 to about 18.5 μg/ml (peak).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the central neuropathic pain is associated with infarction, a compressive tumor or abscess, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, an inflammatory central nervous system disease, ischemia, hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation and/or syringomyelia.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the central neuropathic pain is associated with an inflammatory central nervous system disease selected from multiple sclerosis, myelitis and syphilis.

12. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is substantially enantiopure.

13. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is administered for a period of at least one week.

14. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is administered in a dosage effective, upon passing the subject's blood-brain barrier, to provide an amount of the compound in the brain effective for reducing the susceptibility of a subject to central neuropathic pain.

15. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is administered in a dosage amount of about 50 mg to about 600 mg per day.

16. The method of claim 3 , wherein the dosage amount administered is about 100 mg to about 600 mg per day.

17. The method of claim 3 , wherein the dosage amount administered is about 200 mg to about 600 mg per day.

18. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is administered in no more than three doses per day.

19. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is administered in a pharmaceutical composition resulting in a plasma concentration of the compound of about 0.1 to about 15 μg/ml (trough) and about 5 to about 18.5 μg/ml (peak).

20. The method of claim 3 , wherein the central neuropathic pain is associated with infarction, a compressive tumor or abscess, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, an inflammatory central nervous system disease, ischemia, hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation and/or syringomyelia.

21. The method of claim 3 , wherein the central neuropathic pain is associated with an inflammatory central nervous system disease selected from multiple sclerosis, myelitis and syphilis.

22. A method for treating central neuropathic pain in a subject, comprising administering to the subject the compound (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in a dosage amount of about 50 mg to about 600 mg per day; wherein the central neuropathic pain is associated with infarction, Parkinson's disease, an inflammatory central nervous system disease, ischemia, hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation and/or syringomyelia.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the compound is administered for a period of at least one week.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the compound is substantially enantiopure.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the compound is administered in a dosage effective, upon passing the subject's blood-brain barrier, to provide an amount of (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide in the brain effective for the treatment of central neuropathic pain.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the dosage amount administered is about 100 mg to about 600 mg per day.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the dosage amount administered is about 200 mg to about 600 mg per day.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the compound is administered in no more than three doses per day.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the compound is administered in a pharmaceutical composition resulting in a plasma concentration of the compound of about 0.1 to about 15 μg/ml (trough) and about 5 to about 18.5 μg/ml (peak).

30. The method of claim 22 , wherein the central neuropathic pain is associated with an inflammatory central nervous system disease selected from multiple sclerosis, myelitis and syphilis.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide.

32. The method of claim 3 , wherein the compound is (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide.