Treatment of cataplexy
The present invention relates to a method of treating cataplexy in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of certain carbamate compounds.
1. A method of treating cataplexy in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I):
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof;
wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen selected from F, Cl, Br and I, alkoxy containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, nitro, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, and thioalkoxy containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms;
x is an integer of 0 to 3, with the proviso that R may be the same or different when x is 2 or 3;
R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 carbon atoms; or
R 1 and R 2 can be joined to form a 5 to 7-membered heterocycle substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, and aryl groups, wherein the heterocycle can comprise 1 to 2 nitrogen atoms and 0 to 1 oxygen atom, wherein the nitrogen atoms are not directly connected with each other or with the oxygen atom.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein x=0.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is an enantiomer of Formula I substantially free of other enantiomers or an enantiomeric mixture wherein one enantiomer of Formula I predominates.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the enantiomer of Formula I predominates to the extent of about 98% or greater.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cataplexy is associated with narcolepsy.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cataplexy is secondary to a condition that lowers hypocretin levels in the subject.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of brain tumor, astrocytomas, glioblastoma, glioma, subependynoma, craniopharyngioma, arterio-venous malformations, ischemic events, multiple sclerosis, head injury, brain surgery, paraneoplastic syndromes, Neimann-Pick type C disease, and encephalitis.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula I is from about 0.01 mg/kg/dose to about 150 mg/kg/dose.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound of Formula I is from about 1 mg/day to about 7000 mg/day.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered orally.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in the form of a capsule or tablet.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is administered in the form of a capsule at a dose of about 150 mg to about 300 mg without any excipients.