Methor for use of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) for treatment of depressive disorders in humans

• US 20050272812A1
• Filed: 04/27/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jay W. Pettegrew, Samuel Gershon
• Original Assignee: Jay W. Pettegrew, Samuel Gershon
• Inventors: Pettegrew, Jay W., Gershon, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/117,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20050272812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 514/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/205 Amine addition salts of organic acids; Inner quaternary ammonium salts, e.g. betaine, carnitine
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/24 Antidepressants

Abstract

Depression and bi-polar depression are treated with an acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), thereby avoiding unwanted side-effects exhibited by conventional antidepressant agents. ALCAR also helps prevents recurrent episodes of depression and bi-polar depression and both provides beneficial membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate changes in a brain of human subjects with major depressive disorders (MDD).

Claims

1. A method for treating depression and preventing recurrent episodes thereof in an adolescent or non-geriatric human subject comprising an effective amount of an acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the effective amount of an acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof produces beneficial changes to membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism in a brain of the adolescent or non-geriatric human subject.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the effective amount an acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof decreases levels of phosphomonoesters (PME) in a brain of an adolescent or non-geriatric human subject with depression.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the effective amount acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof increases levels of phospocreatine (PCr) in a brain of an adolescent or non-geriatric human subject with depression.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologically acceptable salt is selected from the group consisting of chloride;

bromide;

iodide;

aspartate, acid aspartate;

citrate, acid citrate;

tartrate;

phosphate, acid phosphate;

fumarate, acid fumarate;

glycerophosphate;

glucose phosphate;

lactate;

maleate, acid maleate;

mucate;

orotate;

oxalate;

acid oxalate;

sulphate, acid sulphate;

trichloroacetate;

trifluoroacetate and methane sulphonate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the administration is in the form of a composition comprising said carnitine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient and/or vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein 0.1 to 3 g/day of the acetyl-L-carnitine or of an equivalent amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are administered.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the acetyl-L-carnitine is administered in the form of a dietary supplement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the acetyl-L-carnitine is administered orally, parenterally, rectally, sublingually or transdermally, in the form of a medicament.

9. A method for treating bi-polar depression and preventing recurrent episodes thereof in an adolescent or non-geriatric human subject comprising an effective amount of an acetyl-L-carnitine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the effective amount of an acetyl-L-carnitine or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof produces beneficial changes to membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism in a brain of the adolescent or non-geriatric human subject.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the effective amount an acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof decreases levels of phosphomonoesters (PME) in a brain of an adolescent or non-geriatric human subject with bi-polar depression.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the effective amount acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof increases levels of phospocreatine (PCr) in a brain of an adolescent or non-geriatric human subject with bi-polar depression.