Methods and Compositions for Treating or Preventing Symptoms of Hormonal Variations

1 . A method for treatment or prevention of symptoms of hormonal variation, comprising:

identifying a subject having one or more symptoms of hormonal variations; and

administering an effective amount of a receptor antagonist to the subject, wherein the receptor antagonist binds to at least one selected from a serotonin type 2A (5-HT.sub.2A) receptor and a dopamine type 2 (D.sub.2) receptor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receptor antagonist comprises at least one of Dextromethorphan and Dextrorphan.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein said Dextromethorphan is DextromethorphanHBr.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receptor antagonist consists essentially of Dextromethorphan.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receptor antagonist consists essentially of Dextromethorphan HBr.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receptor antagonist consists essentially of Dextrorphan.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said symptoms of hormonal variation comprise hot flashes and night sweats.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the effective amount of a receptor antagonist is from 0.1 to 100 mg per day.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the subject is a female.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the subject is a male.

11 . A method for treatment or prevention of symptoms of hormonal variation, comprising:

identifying a subject having one or more symptoms of hormonal variations; and

administering an effective amount of a receptor antagonist and another compound known to reduce or prevent the symptoms of hormonal variation to the subject, wherein the receptor antagonist binds to at least one selected from a serotonin type 2A (5-HT.sub.2A) receptor and a dopamine type 2 (D.sub.2) receptor.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the receptor antagonist comprises at least one of Dextromethorphan and Dextrorphan.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein said another compound is Gabapentin.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the amount of a receptor antagonist administered is from 0.1 to 100 mg per day and the amount of Gabapentin administered is from 1 mg to 900 mg per day.

15 . A pharmaceutical composition for treatment or prevention of symptoms of hormonal variation, comprising:

an effective amount of a receptor antagonist in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said receptor antagonist being of the type that binds to at least one receptor of a serotonin type 2A (5-HT.sub.2A) receptor and/or a dopamine type 2 (D.sub.2) receptor; and

wherein the receptor antagonist is used to treat or prevent symptoms of hormonal variation.

16 . A kit for treatment or prevention of symptoms of hormonal variation, comprising:

an effective amount of a receptor antagonist in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said receptor antagonist being of the type that binds to at least one receptor of a serotonin type 2A (5-HT.sub.2A) receptor and/or a dopamine type 2 (D.sub.2) receptor; and

instructions for performing at least one method of the invention.

17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the receptor antagonist is one of Dextromethorphan, Dextrorphan, Amantadine, Ibogaine, Ketamine, Memantine, Riluzole, Aptiganel, Dizocipline, HU-211, Remacemide, Ketobemidone, Methadone and Tramadol.

18 . The kit of claim 17 , wherein said Dextromethorphan is DextromethorphanHBr.

19 . The kit of claim 16 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable form of receptor antagonist in at least one of oral dosage form, injection, inhalation, and transdermal patch.

20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein said oral dosage form comprises a solution, gel, tablet, capsule, or powder.

21 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein said oral dosage form comprises a controlled-release dosage form, a rapidly dispersed dosage form with a porous network of a matrix composition, or a solid rapidly disintegrating dosage form.

22 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the oral dosage form comprises at least a microparticle composition and a biodegradable and biocompatibly acceptable microparticle polymer carrier.

23 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the oral dosage form comprises at least a sustained-release microparticle produced by dissolving the receptor antagonist in a solvent with a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer to form an organic phase, and extracting the solvent to form microparticles.

24 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the oral dosage form comprises a microencapsulated pharmaceutical composition having a selected release profile prepared by a method for preparing microparticles, comprising:

(a) preparing an emulsion that comprises a first phase and a second phase, wherein the first phase comprises the receptor antagonist, a polymer, and a solvent for the polymer;

(b) quenching the emulsion in a quench liquid to form microparticles containing the receptor antagonist;

(c) selecting a degree of intermediate drying of the microparticles to be performed so that the selected release profile is achieved;

(d) washing the microparticles; and

(e) final drying the microparticles

25 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the oral dosage form is a multi-phasic sustained-release microparticle composition, prepared by a process comprising: dissolving in a solvent the receptor antagonist and a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer to form an organic phase; extracting the solvent to form microparticles; and combining microparticles having a plurality of sizes to thereby form a composition that delivers the receptor antagonist in a multi-phasic manner.

26 . The kit of claim 16 , comprising the receptor antagonist and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of nutrients, vitamins, other active ingredients, sweeteners, flavouring agents, colouring agents, surfactants, preservatives, antioxidants, viscosity enhancers, and minerals.

27 . The kit of claim 16 , comprising multiple containers containing the receptor antagonist.

28 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the effective amount of receptor antagonist is given to a female.

29 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the effective amount of receptor antagonist is given to a male.