METHOD FOR TREATING OBESITY
The present invention relates generally to methods of treating obesity and minimizing metabolic risk factors associated therewith using, for example, zonisamide or other weight loss-promoting anti-convulsant either alone or in combination with bupropion or metabolites thereof or other compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine via uptake inhibition or other mechanism.
1 . A method of treating obesity in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment at least one weight-loss promoting anticonvulsant and at least one compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine in amounts such that said treatment is effected.
2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said anticonvulsant is of the formula (I):
wherein X is CH 2 or oxygen,
R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl,
R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, and when X is CH 2 , R 4 and R 5 can be alkene groups joined to form a benzene ring and when X is oxygen, R 2 and R 3 and/or R 4 and R 5 together can be a methylenedioxy group of the following formula (II):
wherein
R 6 and R 7 are the same or different and are hydrogen, lower alkyl or are alkyl and are joined to form a cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl ring.
3 . The method according to claim 2 wherein R 1 is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4 alkyl, straight and branched chain, and R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are a C 1 -C 3 alkyl, straight or branched chain.
4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said anticonvulsant is of the formula (III):
wherein R 1 is hydrogen or a halogen atom, R 2 and R 3 are the same or different and are each hydrogen or an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and one of X and Y is a carbon atom and another is a nitrogen atom, provided that the group —CH 2 SO 2 NR 2 R 3 is bonded to the carbon atom of either of X and Y, or an alkali metal salt thereof.
5 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said anticonvulsant is zonisamide or topiramate.
6 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine effects said enhancement via uptake inhibition.
7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine is bupropion, Atomoxetine or Reboxetine.
8 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said anticonvulsant and said compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine are administered separately.
9 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said anticonvulsant and said compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine are administered concurrently.
10 . A method of reducing the risk of hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidaemia in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need of such reduction at least one weight-loss promoting anticonvulsant and at least one compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine in amounts such that said reduction is effected.
11 . A method of treating obesity in mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a compound of formula (III):
wherein R 1 is hydrogen or a halogen atom, R 2 and R 3 are the same or different and are each hydrogen or an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and one of X and Y is a carbon atom and another is a nitrogen atom, provided that the group —CH 2 SO 2 NR 2 R 3 is bonded to the carbon atom of either of X and Y, or an alkali metal salt thereof, in an amount sufficient to effect said treatment.
12 . The method according to claim 11 wherein said compound is zonisamide.
13 . A composition comprising at least one weight loss-promoting anticonvulsant and at least one compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine.
14 . The composition according to claim 13 wherein said compound is in dosage unit form.
15 . The composition according to claim 14 wherein said composition is in the form of a tablet or capsule.
16 . The composition according to claim 13 wherein said anticonvulsant is zonisamide or topiramate.
17 . The composition according to claim 13 wherein said compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine is bupropion.