Use of dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonists to treat fibromyalgia

• US 6,277,875 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: CNS-Rheumatology, Inc.
• Inventors: Holman, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fay, Zohreh
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWON, YONG SOK
• Application Number:
  US09/617,177
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 514/367, 514/418, 514/421
• US Class Current: 514/367
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/428 condensed with carbocyclic rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/00 Drugs for skeletal disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 21/00 Drugs for disorders of the muscular or neuromuscular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/04 Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

The present invention is directed to metho s for the treatment of human patients afflicted with fibromyalgia using a non-ergot dopamine receptor D2/D3 agonist. In particular, patients are treated with a therapeutically effective amount of tetrahydro-benzthiazole or 3(H)-indolone compounds that are dopamine agonists. More specifically, the compounds 2-amino-6-n-propylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo-thiazole or 4-[2-(dipropylamino)-ethyl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one are administered to fibromyalgia patients to reduce the musculoskeletal pain symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Claims

1. A method for treating fibromyalgia comprising administering to a patient afflicted with such condition a therapeutically effective amount for treating such condition of a non-ergot dopamine D₂/D₃ receptor agonist or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, alone or in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the dopamine D₂/D₃ receptor agonist is a tetrahydro-benzthiazole compound of formula I:

2. A method accordidng to claim 1, wherein the therapeutically effective amount is of from about 0.1 to 50.0 mg/day.

3. A method accordidng to claim 1, wherein the therapeutically effective amount is of from about 0.25 to 40.0 mg/day.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the compound of formula I is 2-amino-6-n-propylamino-4,5,6,7 tetrahydrobenzothiozole or the (-)-enantiomers thereof.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutically effective amount is of from about 0.5 to about 20.0 mg/day.