Dihydrotetrabenazine for the treatment of anxiety and psychoses
This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine, processes for making them and their therapeutic uses.
1. A method of antagonizing a dopamine D4 receptor which method comprises contacting the receptor with (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
2. A method of treating a disease or condition selected from psychoses, depression and anxiety in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering an effective amount of (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the subject.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the disease or condition is a psychosis.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein contacting of dopamine D4 receptors with (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof takes place in vivo in a mammalian subject.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the mammalian subject is a human.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the in vivo contacting of dopamine D4 receptors with (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is effective to treat a condition from which the human subject is suffering in which the D4 receptor or mutant forms thereof are implicated, said condition being selected from psychoses, depression and anxiety.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine has an isomeric purity of greater than 90%.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine has an isomeric purity of greater than 95%.
9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine has an isomeric purity of greater than 90%.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the (−)-β-dihydrotetrabenazine has an isomeric purity of greater than 95%.