Use of selective chloride channel modulators to treat alcohol and/or stimulant substance abuse
The invention relates to methods of and treatments for using pharmaceutical compositions from a class of compounds that directly or indirectly selectively modulates GABA A chloride channel activity to treat alcohol and/or stimulant substance abuse. The present invention also relates to methods of, and protocols for, relieving symptoms associated with alcohol and/or stimulant substance abuse in a comprehensive treatment plan. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of a selective chloride channel modulator, such as flumazenil, to treat alcohol and/or psychostimulant dependency, the withdrawal symptoms associated therewith, and the cravings associated therewith.
1 . A method for the treatment of alcohol abuse comprising the steps of:
evaluating a patient;
administering a therapeutically effective amount of a selective chloride channel modulator;
monitoring said patient during treatment;
prescribing said patient a therapeutic compound in addition to said selective chloride channel modulator; and
prescribing said patient an outpatient regimen.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said patient evaluation step comprises at least one of the following: a complete physical examination, a complete psychological examination, a CIWA assessment, and a determination of required medications.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said selective chloride channel modulator is flumazenil.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein said therapeutically effective amount of flumazenil is between about 1.0 and 3.0 mg/day.
5 . The method of claim 3 wherein said therapeutically effective amount of flumazenil is between about 1.5 and 2.5 mg/day.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said therapeutic compound includes at least one of the following: fortified vitamin b, hydroxyzine, or gabapentin.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said outpatient regimen includes at least one of diet, exercise, and cognitive therapy.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein selective chloride channel modulator is a partial allosteric modulator.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the partial allosteric modulator acts with high potency but low efficacy at said GABA A receptor sites.
10 . The method of claim 8 wherein the partial allosteric modulator acts to reset said GABA A receptor receptivity and increase chloride channel ion flow.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the selective chloride channel modulator acts to reset changes in GABA A subunits.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the selective chloride channel modulator is a partial agonist of the GABA A receptor.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the selective chloride channel modulator is at least one of a imidazobenzodiazepine or derivative of ethyl 8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo-[1,5-a][1,4] benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate.
14 . A method for the treatment of stimulant abuse comprising the steps of:
evaluating a patient via a pre-treatment regimen;
administering a therapeutically effective amount of a selective chloride channel modulator;
monitoring said patient during treatment;
prescribing said patient a therapeutic compound in addition to said selective chloride channel modulator; and
prescribing said patient an outpatient regimen.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein said pre-treatment regimen includes at least one of the following: a complete physical examination, a complete psychological examination, a CIWA assessment, and a determination of required medications.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein said selective chloride channel modulator is flumazenil.
17 . The method of claim 14 wherein said therapeutic compound includes at least one of the following: fortified vitamin b, hydroxyzine, gabapentin, or a protein supplement drink.
18 . The method of claim 14 wherein said outpatient regimen includes at least one of diet, exercise, and cognitive therapy.
19 . The method of claim 14 wherein said outpatient regimen includes the providing of pharmaceutical compositions.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein said pharmaceutical compositions include at least one of the following:
hydroxyzine, glutamine, fortified vitamin B 100 complex, amino acid supplements, or gabapentin.
21 . The method of claim 14 wherein said steps of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a selective chloride channel modulator, monitoring said patient during treatment, and prescribing said patient a therapeutic compound in addition to said selective chloride channel modulator are repeated after three weeks of initial treatment.
22 . The method of claim 14 wherein selective chloride channel modulator is a partial allosteric modulator.
23 . The method of claim 22 wherein the partial allosteric modulator acts with high potency but low efficacy at said GABA A receptor sites.
24 . The method of claim 22 wherein the partial allosteric modulator acts to reset said GABA A receptor receptivity and increase chloride channel ion flow.
25 . The method of claim 14 wherein the selective chloride channel modulator acts to reset changes in GABA A subunits.
26 . The method of claim 14 wherein the selective chloride channel modulator is a partial agonist of the GABA A receptor.
27 . The method of claim 14 wherein the selective chloride channel modulator is at least one of a imidazobenzodiazepine or derivative of ethyl 8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo-[1,5-a][1,4] benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate.
28 . A method for treating alcohol abuse comprising the steps of:
evaluating a patient;
administering a therapeutically effective amount of flumazenil wherein said therapeutically effective amount is less than 3 mg/day and delivered in individual doses no greater than 0.4 mg over a period of no greater than 20 minutes;
monitoring said patient during treatment;
prescribing said patient a therapeutic compound in addition to said selective chloride channel modulator; and
prescribing said patient an outpatient regimen.
29 . A method for the treatment of stimulant abuse comprising the steps of:
evaluating a patient via a pre-treatment regimen;
administering a therapeutically effective amount of flumazenil wherein said therapeutically effective amount is less than 3 mg/day and delivered in individual doses no greater than 0.4 mg over a period of no greater than 20 minutes;
monitoring said patient during treatment;
prescribing said patient a therapeutic compound in addition to said selective chloride channel modulator; and
prescribing said patient an outpatient regimen.