Treatment of anti-depression drug-induced sexual dysfunction with apomorphine

• US 20020115683A1
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dustin D. Ruff, Renee J. Perdok
• Original Assignee: Dustin D. Ruff, Renee J. Perdok
• Inventors: Ruff, Dustin D., Perdok, Renee J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,528,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/295
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/135 having aromatic rings , e.g. ketamine, nortriptyline methadone A61K31/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/138 Aryloxyalkylamines, e.g. propranolol, tamoxifen, phenoxybenzamine atenolol A61K31/165; pindolol A61K31/404; timolol A61K31/5377
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4525 containing a five-membered ring with oxygen as a ring hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/473 ortho- or peri-condensed with carbocyclic ring systems, e.g. acridines, phenanthridines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4745 condensed with ring systems having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. phenantrolines yohimbine derivatives, vinblastine A61K31/475; ergoline derivatives A61K31/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/485 Morphinan derivatives, e.g. morphine, codeine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/08 for nausea, cinetosis or vertigo; Antiemetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/00 Drugs for genital or sexual disorders for disorders of sex hormones A61P5/24; Contraceptives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/10 for impotence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/24 Antidepressants

Abstract

A method for treating sexual dysfunction in a patient taking anti-depressant medication in need of such treatment comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of apomorphine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to said patient is disclosed. The method may be utilized for patients taking anti-depressants such as tricyclic anti-depressants, monamine oxidase inhibitors or serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors.

Claims

1. A method of treating sexual dysfunction in a patient taking anti-depressant medication in need of such treatment comprising

administering a therapeutically effective amount of apomorphine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to said patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said anti-depressant medication is a tricyclic anti-depressant, a monamine oxidase inhibitor or a serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said patient is male and said therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to induce an erection adequate for vaginal penetration.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said patient is female and said therapeutically effective amount is an amount sufficient to induce clitoral erectogenesis and vaginal engorgement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said therapeutically effective amount is an amount wherein a concentration of apomorphine is attained within said patient'"'"'s plasma of up to 10 nanograms per milliliter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said apomorphine is administered intranasally, orally ingested, sublingually or administered by inhalation to the lungs.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said apomorphine is administered as the hydrochloride salt.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said apomorphine is co-administered with an emesis-inhibiting amount of an anti-emetic agent.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said anti-emetic agent is selected from the group consisting of nicotine, lobeline sulfate, metoclopramide, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, pipamazine, thiethylperazine, oxypendyl hydrochloride, domperidone, ondansetron, buclizine hydrochloride, cyclizine hydrochloride, dimenhydrinate, scopolamine, metopimazine, trimethobenzamide, benzauinamine hydrochloride and diphenidol hydrochloride.