Treatment of thalamocortical dysrhythmia
A method for treating conditions associated with thalamocortical dysrhythmia. The method includes applying transcranial low voltage electrical stimulation (TLVES) therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy to a patient in need thereof, and administering to the patient a dissociative anesthetic during the TLVES therapy or the TMS therapy. A number of conditions including tinnitus, depression and pain can be treated with TLVES or TMS in combination with the dissociative anesthetic, such as an NMADR inhibitor, including ketamine.
1. A method for treating pain, the method comprising,
a combination therapy comprising:
administering intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, intranasally or by inhalation an N-methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist to an individual having pain, and
applying, external to the skull of the individual, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy directed towards the anterior cingulate region.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TMS is applied at least one of prior to, during and after the administration of the NMDAR antagonist as part of the combination therapy.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the NMDAR antagonist is ketamine.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the ketamine is administered at a dose of about 50 mg to about 500 mg.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the ketamine is administered at a dose of about 0.5 mg/kg to about 5.0 mg/kg.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TMS is applied at intervals of 3-7 days during the administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pain is associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual having pain has previously failed at least one of the following treatments: rTMS alone, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), TLVES alone, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), hyperbaric oxygen, ketamine alone, and homeopathy.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied up to four days after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied within two hours after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
11. A method for treating depression, comprising
a combination therapy comprising:
administering intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, intranasally or by inhalation an N-methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist to a patient suffering from depression, and
applying, external to the skull of the patient, transcranial low voltage electric stimulation (TLVES) therapy comprising 1-4 mAmps applied across brain tissue or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy directed towards the anterior cingulate region.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied at least one of prior to, during and after the administration of the NMDAR antagonist as part of the combination therapy.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the NMDAR antagonist is ketamine, d-cycloserine, or dextromethorphan.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ketamine is administered at a dose of about 50 mg to about 500 mg.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein ketamine is administered at a dose of about 0.5 mg/kg to about 5.0 mg/kg.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied at intervals of 3-7 days during the administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the depression is bipolar depression.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the depression is major depressive disorder.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the patient has previously failed at least one of the following treatments: rTMS alone, VNS, TLVES alone, ECT, hyperbaric oxygen, ketamine alone, and homeopathy.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied up to four days after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied within two hours after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
22. A method for treating pain, the method comprising
a combination therapy comprising:
administering a NMDAR antagonist intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, intranasally or by inhalation to an individual having pain, and
applying, external to the skull of the individual, transcranial low voltage electric stimulation (TLVES) therapy comprising 1-4 mAmps applied across brain tissue.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the TLVES is applied at least one of prior to, during and after the administration of the NMDAR antagonist as part of the combination therapy.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the pain is associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the TLVES is applied at intervals of 3-7 days during the administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the patient has previously failed at least one of the following treatments: rTMS alone, VNS, TLVES alone, ECT, hyperbaric oxygen, ketamine alone, and homeopathy.
27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied up to four days after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied within two hours after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the NMDAR antagonist is ketamine, d-cycloserine, or dextromethorphan.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the ketamine is administered at a dose of about 50 mg to about 500 mg.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein the ketamine is administered at a dose of about 0.5 mg/kg to about 5.0 mg/kg.
32. A method for treating substance abuse, comprising:
a combination therapy comprising:
administering intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, intranasally or by inhalation an N-methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist to a patient suffering from substance abuse, and
applying, external to the skull of the patient, transcranial stimulation therapy selected from transcranial low voltage electric stimulation (TLVES) therapy comprising 1-4 mAmps applied across brain tissue or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy directed towards the anterior cingulate region.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied up to four days after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
34. The method of claim 32 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied within two hours after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
35. A method for treating obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), comprising:
a combination therapy comprising:
administering intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, intranasally or by inhalation an N-methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist to an individual exhibiting OCD, and
applying external to the skull of the individual, transcranial stimulation therapy selected from transcranial low voltage electric stimulation (TLVES) therapy comprising 1-4 mAmps applied across brain tissue or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy directed towards the anterior cingulate region.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied up to four days after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied within two hours after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
38. A method for treating tinnitus, comprising a combination therapy comprising:
administering intravenously, intramuscularly, orally, intranasally or by inhalation an N-methyl d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist to an individual suffering from tinnitus, and
applying external to the skull of the individual, transcranial stimulation therapy selected from transcranial low voltage electric stimulation (TLVES) comprising 1-4 mAmps applied across brain tissue or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy directed towards the anterior cingulate region.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied up to four days after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.
40. The method claim 38 wherein the TLVES or TMS is applied within two hours after administration of the NMDAR antagonist.