Method for treating eating disorders by selective extinction with transdermal naloxone

• US 7,910,599 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lightlake Therapeutics Inc.
• Original Assignee: John David Sinclair
• Inventors: Sinclair, John David
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan; Sreeni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter; Kendra D
• Application Number:
  US11/031,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,262 Days
• Field of Search: 514/277, 514/337, 514/345, 514/909, 514/910, 514/282, 546/46
• US Class Current: 514/282
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/485 Morphinan derivatives, e.g. morphine, codeine
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/30 for treating abuse or dependence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/04 Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents

Abstract

A method for treating eating disorders by repeatedly administering naloxone in a dosage sufficient to block the effects of opiate agonists to a subject suffering from an eating disorder caused by one or more related problem responses; while the amount of naloxone in the subject'"'"'s body is sufficient to block opiate effects, having the subject make one of the problem responses from which the subject suffers in the presence of stimuli similar to those to which it had been learned, after the amount of naloxone is no longer sufficient to block opiate effects, having the subject make healthy eating responses to food items that do not trigger the problem responses; and continuing the steps of administration of naloxone and having one after another of the problem responses made, followed by having a naloxone-free period in which healthy eating occurs, until the problem responses are extinguished.

Claims

1. A method for treating binge eating by selectively extinguishing the behavior causing binge eating while strengthening normal health eating behaviors, comprising the steps of:

adminstering naloxone to a subject suffering from binge eating before the subject engages in binge eating behavior;

and soon after the amount of naloxone ia no longer sufficient to blockopiate effects but while there still is an upregulation of opioid receptors, having the subject make healthy eating responses to food items that do not trigger binge eating for the subject; and

repeating the steps of administration of naloxone before binge eating behavior is made, followed by having a naloxone-free period in which healthy eating occurs, until the binge eating responses are sufficiently weakened by extinction that the patient can control them.

6. The method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein naloxone is given transdermally and the dose per day is 0.01 to 50 mg.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 in which the dose of naloxone is started at a high level of 5 to 50 mg and then is progressively reduced over the days of treatment.

2. A method for treating bulimia by selectively extinguishing the behavior causing bulimia while strengthening normal health eating behaviors, comprising the steps of:

administering naloxone to a subject suffering from bulimia before the subject engages in bulimic behavior;

and soon after the amount of naloxone is no longer sufficient to block opiate effects but while there still is an upregulation of opioid receptors, having the subject make healthy eating responses to food items that do not trigger bulimia for the subject; and

repeating the steps of administration of naloxone before bulimic behavior is made, followed by having a naloxone-free period in which healthy eating occurs, until the bulimic responses are sufficient weakened by extinction that the patient can control them.

3. A method for treating anorexia nervosa by selectively extinguishing the behavior causing anorexia while strengthening normal health eating behaviors, comprising the steps of:

administering naloxone to a subject suffering from anorexia nervosa before the subject engages in anorexic behavior;

and soon after the amount of naloxone is no longer sufficient to block opiate effects but while there still is an upregulation of opioid receptors, having the subject make healthy eating responses; and

repeating the steps of administration of naloxone while not eating, followed by having a naloxone-free period in which eating occurs, until the anorexic responses are sufficient weakened by extinction and the eating behaviors sufficiently strengthened that the patient can maintain a healthy body weight.

4. A method for treating stimulus-bound overeating by selectively extinguishing the behavior causing overeating while strengthening normal health eating behaviors, comprising the steps of:

administering naloxone to a subject who habitually overeats in the presence of specific stimuli;

and while the amount of naloxone in the body is sufficient to block the effects of opiate agonists having the subject overeat in response to those stimuli;

and soon after the amount of naloxone is no longer sufficient to block opiate effects but while there still is an upregulation of opioid receptors, having the subject make healthy eating responses while the specific stimuli are not present; and

repeating the steps of administration of naloxone before stimulus-bound overeating behavior is made, followed by having a naloxone-free period in which healthy eating occurs, until the stimulus-bound overeating responses are sufficient weakened by extinction that the patient can control them.

5. A method for helping a subject avoid eating a specific food item as required by a medical condition, by selectively extinguishing the behavior of tasting or eating the specific food item while strengthening other health eating behaviors, comprising the steps of:

administering naloxone to a subject suffering from a medical condition requiring avoidance of the specific food item before the subject engages in tasting or eating a small amount of the specific food item while the amount of naloxone in the body is sufficient to block the effects of opiate agonists;

and soon after the amount of naloxone is no longer sufficient to block opiate effects but while there still is an upregulation of opioid receptors, having the subject eat other food items; and

repeating the steps of administration of naloxone before tasting or eating small amounts of the specific food item, followed by having a naloxone-free period in which eating of other food items occurs, until the responses related to eating the specific food item are sufficient weakened by extinction that the patient can control them.