Cholinesterase inhibitors for treatment of Parkinson's disease

• US 5,965,571 A
• Filed: 08/21/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New York University
• Original Assignee: New York University
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, LAKSHMI SARADA
• Application Number:
  US08/915,736
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 514/32, 514/278, 514/411, 514/297, 424/489
• US Class Current: 514/297
• 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 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/40 having five-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. sulpiride, succinimide, tolmetin, buflomedil
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/407 condensed with other heterocyclic ring systems, e.g. ketorolac, physostigmine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/55 having seven-membered rings, e.g. azelastine, pentylenetetrazole
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/66 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/662 Phosphorus acids or esters thereof having P—C bonds, e.g. foscarnet, trichlorfon
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7068 having oxo groups directly attached to the pyrimidine ring, e.g. cytidine, cytidylic acid
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/16 Anti-Parkinson drugs

Abstract

Parkinson'"'"'s disease can be treated with an at least one cholinesterase inhibitor. The cholinesterase inhibitor has been found to alleviate both any symptoms of dementia as well as to reduce rigidity and improve motor function.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s Disease consisting of administering to said patient an effective amount of at least one cholinesterase inhibitor to treat symptoms of Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the patient is treated for rigidity associated with Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the patient is treated for dementia associated with Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of galanthamine, physostigmine, tetrahydroamino-acridine (tacrine), citicoline, velnacrine maleate, metrifonate, and heptastigmine.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is a butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one cholinesterase inhibitor is administered in an amount of from about 20 mg to about 200 my per day.

8. A method for treating a patient suffering from Parkinson'"'"'s Disease consisting of administering to said patient an effective amount of at least one cholinesterase inhibitor in combination with at least one medication conventionally administered to treat Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said at least one medication is levodopa.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said at least one medication is selegilene.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the patient is treated for rigidity associated with Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the patient is treated for dementia associated with Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of galanthamine, physostigmine, tetrahydroamino-acridine (tacrine), citicoline, velnacrine maleate, metrifonate, and heptastigmine.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cholinesterase inhibitor is a butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor.

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one cholinesterase inhibitor is administered in an amount of from about 20 mg to about 200 mg per day.