Use of serotonin agonists to alleviate disordered breathing episodes in a mammal

• US 6,387,907 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Veasey, Sigrid C., Pack, Allan I., Hendricks, Joan C., Kubin, Leszek
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarvis, William R. A.
• Application Number:
  US09/439,799
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 514/649, 514/254.06, 514/419
• US Class Current: 514/254.06
• 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 31/405 Indole-alkanecarboxylic acids; Derivatives thereof, e.g. tryptophan, indomethacin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/495 having six-membered rings with two or more nitrogen atoms as the only ring heteroatoms, e.g. piperazine or tetrazinesA61K31/48 takes precedence ; with three nitrogen atoms A61K31/53

Abstract

The invention includes compositions for alleviating or preventing a disordered breathing episode. The composition of the invention comprises a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, a TRH agonist and an agent selected from the group consisting of a serotonin precursor and a serotonin agonist.

Claims

1. A composition for alleviating or preventing a disordered breathing episode in a mammal, said composition comprising a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, a TRH agonist, and an agent selected from the group consisting of a serotonin precursor and a serotonin agonist.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said serotonin re-uptake inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of trazadone, fluoxetine, and nefazodone.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said serotonin precursor is selected from the group consisting of L-tryptophan and L-5-hydroxytryptophan.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said serotonin re-uptake inhibitor comprises trazadone, wherein said serotonin precursor comprises L-tryptophan, and wherein the ratio, by weight, of L-tryptophan to trazodone is between about 13.3 to 1 and about 13.5 to 1.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said serotonin agonist is selected from the group consisting of serotonin, 5-CT, and DOI.

6. The composition of claim 1, comprising both said serotonin precursor and said serotonin agonist.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said TRH agonist is selected from the group consisting of TRH, montirelin, and CG-3703.

8. A kit for alleviating or preventing a disordered breathing episode in a mammal, said kit comprising a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, a TRH agonist, and an agent selected from the group consisting of a serotonin precursor and a serotonin agonist.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of L-tryptophan, L-5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-CT, and DOI and is in a unit dosage form.

10. The kit of claim 9, wherein said serotonin re-uptake inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of trazadone, fluoxetine, and nefazodone and is in a unit dosage form.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the unit dosage form of said agent is an oral unit dosage form and wherein the unit dosage form of said serotonin re-uptake inhibitor is an injectable solution.

12. The kit of claim 8, further comprising an instructional material describing administration of said serotonin re-uptake inhibitor and said agent for the purpose of alleviating or preventing a disordered breathing episode in a mammal.