BUPROPION AND DEXTROMETHORPHAN FOR REDUCTION OF SUICIDE RISK IN DEPRESSION PATIENTS

1 . A method of treating depression or reducing risk of suicide, comprising administering a combination of about 90 mg to about 120 mg of bupropion hydrochloride, or a molar equivalent amount of another form of bupropion, and about 40 mg to about 50 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide, or a molar equivalent amount of another form of dextromethorphan, to a human being; wherein the combination is administered twice a day to the human being suffering from major depressive disorder and having a score of 3 or greater on the Suicidality Item of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-SI).

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the combination comprises about 105 mg of bupropion hydrochloride, or a molar equivalent amount of another form of bupropion, and about 45 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide, or a molar equivalent amount of another form of dextromethorphan.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the combination is administered twice a day for at least one week.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the combination is administered twice a day for at least two weeks.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the combination is administered twice a day for at least six weeks.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the MADRS-SI of the human being is reduced by at least 30% after the combination is administered to the human being twice a day for one week.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the MADRS-SI of the human being is reduced by at least 50% after the combination is administered to the human being twice a day for two weeks.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the MADRS-SI of the human being is reduced by at least 60% after the combination is administered to the human being twice a day for four weeks.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after eight days of administration of the combination twice a day, the C max of dextromethorphan in the human being is increased about 15- to about 25-fold as compared to administration of a single dose of the combination.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the C min of dextromethorphan in the human being is increased about 35- to about 45-fold as compared to administering a single dose of the combination.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the AUC 0-12 of dextromethorphan in the human being is increased about 25- to about 45-fold as compared to administering a single dose of the combination.

12 . The method of claim 2 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the C max of dextromethorphan in the human being is about 75 ng/ml to about 80 ng/ml.

13 . The method of claim 2 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the C min of dextromethorphan is about 42 ng/ml to about 50 ng/ml.

14 . The method of claim 2 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the AUC 0-12 of dextromethorphan in the human being is about 755 ng·hr/mL.

15 . The method of claim 2 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the C max of bupropion in the human being is about 85 ng/ml to about 90 ng/ml.

16 . The method of claim 2 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the C min of bupropion is about 25 ng/ml to about 35 ng/ml.

17 . The method of claim 2 , wherein after eight days of administering the combination twice a day, the AUC 0-12 of bupropion in the human being is about 660 ng·hr/mL to about 670 ng·hr/mL.