Composition for reducing nervous system injury and method of making and use thereof

1. A method for reducing nerve injury in a subject, comprising:

administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amiloride analog or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein the amiloride analog is selected from the group consisting of benzamil, a methylated analog of benzamil, phenamil, 5-(N-ethyl-N-isobutyl)-amiloride (EIPA), KB-R7943, 5-(N,N-hexamethylene) amiloride and 5-(N,N-dimethyl) amiloride hydrochloride, or

wherein the amiloride analog comprises—a water solubilizing group formed on a guanidine group, wherein the water solubilizing group is a N,N-dimethyl amino group or a sugar group, and

wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered orally.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amiloride analog is benzamil or a methylated analog of benzamil.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amiloride analog is phenamil.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amiloride analog is 5-(N-ethyl-N-isobutyl)-amiloride (EIPA).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amiloride analog is KB-R7943.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amiloride analog comprises 5-(N,N-hexamethylene) amiloride or 5-(N,N-dimethyl) amiloride hydrochloride.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amiloride analog or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is given in a dose range of 0.1 mg-10 mg/kg body weight.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered within one hour of the onset of an ischemic event.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered between one hour and five hours of the onset of an ischemic event.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve injury is a nervous system injury.