Method for treating atypical facial pain
The present invention is directed to the use of a class of peptide compounds for treating pain in trigeminal neuralgia.
1. A method for alleviating and/or treating atypical facial pain in a subject in need of such alleviation and/or treatment, the method comprising administering to the subject a compound of Formula (IIb)
wherein
Ar is phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with at least one halo group;
R 3 is CH 2 -Q, wherein Q is lower a containing 1-3 carbon atoms; and
R 1 is lower alkyl containing 1-3 carbon atoms,
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the compound of Formula (IIb), Ar is unsubstituted phenyl.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the compound of Formula (IIb), halo is fluoro.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the compound of Formula (IIb), R 3 is CH 2 -Q, wherein Q is alkoxy containing 1-3 carbon atoms, and Ar is unsubstituted phenyl.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula (IIb) is (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the compound is substantially enantiopure.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered at increasing daily doses until a predetermined daily dose is reached which is maintained during further treatment.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered in no more than three doses per day.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the compound is administered in an amount resulting in a plasma concentration of the compound of 0.1 to 15 μg/ml (trough) and 5 to 18.5 μg/ml (peak).
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered orally or intravenously.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammal.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the subject is a human.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula (IIb) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in a dosage amount of about 50 mg/day to about 1 g/day.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the compound of Formula (IIb) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in a dosage amount of about 200 mg/day to about 1 g/day.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the compound of Formula (IIb) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in a dosage amount of about 200 mg/day to about 600 mg/day.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the compound of Formula (IIb) is (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropionamide in an oral dosage amount of about 50 mg/day to about 600 mg/day.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the dosage amount is about 200 mg/day to about 600 mg/day.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of
(R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxy-propionamide;
O-methyl-N-acetyl-D-serine-m-fluorobenzylamide; and
O-methyl-N-acetyl-D-serine-p-fluorobenzylamide.