Treatment of demyelinating disorders

1. A method of treating a demyelinating disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of Formula I:

or a derivative or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and R 5 are independently hydrogen, deuterium, halogen, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, aryl, or aryloxy, thereby treating a demyelinating disorder in said subject.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 5 are not hydrogen and/or wherein R 1 and R 5 are halogen.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is of Formula II or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the demyelinating disorder is selected from the group consisting of: multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, periventricular leukomalacia, periventricular white matter injury, Tabes Dorsalis, Devic's disease, optic neuritis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, transverse myelitis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, anti-MAG peripheral neuropathy, adrenoleukodystrophy, adrenomyeloneuropathy, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, central pontine myelinolysis, diffuse white matter injury, leukodystrophy, and Charcot Marie Tooth Disease.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein treating comprises treating a symptom of a demyelinating disorder, wherein the symptom is selected from the group consisting of: fatigue, somatosensory dysfunction, tingling, pain, numbness, balance problems, problems with walking, changes in vision, depression, emotional changes, mood swings, impaired cognition, muscle dysfunction, impaired muscle coordination, sexual impairment, speech impairment, swallowing impairment, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein about 1 mg to about 64 mg of the compound is administered to the subject.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered orally.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administration of the compound is combined with one or more of glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumerate (BG-12), fingolimod (FTY720), interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, mitoxantrone, natalizumab, dalfampridine, teriflunomide, and/or daclizumab.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is guanabenz.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein about 64 mg/day of said guanabenz is administered to said subject.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula I is:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the size and/or number of white matter plaques and/or lesions is reduced.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein treating comprises protecting brain cells from inflammation.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administration of the compound is combined with glatiramer acetate.

15. A method of treating multiple sclerosis in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

16. A method for inhibiting hypomyelination in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of administering to the subject in need thereof an effective amount of

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the subject has or has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.