Therapeutic use of compounds
A compound having the formula (I) R1-COOH. R1 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having a C 7-11 backbone, optionally branched with a C 1-6 alkyl group at any C position in the backbone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide or ester thereof. The backbone of the alkyl or alkenyl group, and/or the branched alkyl groups, are optionally interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, provided that when R1 is an alkyl group having a C 7 backbone, the branching does not consist only of a hexyl group at the a carbon of R1, or only of a methyl group at the γ carbon of R1, or of only single methyl groups at both the β and ω-1 carbons of R1, and provided that when R1 is an alkyl group having a C 8 or C 11 backbone, the branching does not consist only of a propyl group at the a carbon of R1.
1. A method of treating epilepsy in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of decanoic acid, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or its ester, wherein the therapeutically effective amount of decanoic acid, salt, or ester is about 400 to about 600 mg/kg.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the decanoic acid, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or its ester is administered to the subject with on or more of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant or a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of decanoic acid, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or its ester is administered to the subject orally.