Compositions and methods for treating respiratory depression with fenfluramine
AssigneeZogenix International Limited
InventorsBradley S. Galer, Carl L. Faingold, Parthena Martin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
5-HT receptor agonists are useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Provided herein are methods of treating and/or reducing the occurrence of respiratory depression caused by an opioid in a human patient or patient population using a 5-HT receptor agonist, such as, for example, a 5-HT4 agonist (e.g., fenfluramine). Methods of stimulating one or more 5-HT4 receptors in the brain of a patient undergoing treatment with an opioid, wherein the patient is at risk of respiratory depression, by administering a 5-HT4 agonist (e.g., fenfluramine) to a subject in need thereof are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions for use in practicing the subject methods are also provided.
Claims22
A method of treating respiratory depression caused by an opioid, barbiturate or benzodiazepine in a human patient, comprising:
- administering to the patient a therapeutically effective dose of a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 agonist (5-HT4 agonist);
- and
- allowing the 5-HT4 agonist to stimulate 5-HT4 receptors in the patient, thereby treating respiratory depression caused by the opioid, barbiturate or benzodiazepine in the patient.
A method of reducing incidence of respiratory depression caused by an opioid, barbiturate and/or benzodiazepine in a selected human patient population, comprising:
- selecting a population of human patients being treated with an opioid, barbiturate and/or benzodiazepine and thereby at risk of respiratory depression;
- administering to the selected patient population a therapeutically effective dose of a 5-HT4 agonist;
- and
- allowing the 5-HT4 agonist to stimulate 5-HT4 receptors in the selected patient population, thereby reducing incidence of respiratory depression caused by the opioid, barbiturate and/or benzodiazepine in the patient population.
A method of reducing the likelihood of respiratory depression caused by an opioid, barbiturate and/or benzodiazepine in a human patient, comprising:
- selecting a human patient being treated with an opioid, barbiturate and/or benzodiazepine and thus at risk of respiratory depression;
- administering to the patient a therapeutically effective dose of a 5-HT4 agonist;
- and
- allowing the 5-HT4 agonist to stimulate 5-HT4 receptors in the patient, thereby reducing the likelihood of respiratory depression in the patient.
A method of increasing the safety of administering benzodiazepines or barbiturates to a patient suffering from epilepsy, comprising administering an effective dose of a 5-HT4 agonist along with the benzodiazepine or barbiturate, thereby lowering a risk of respiratory depression in the patient.
A method of lowering a risk of respiratory depression associated with concomitant use of (i) an opioid and (ii) a barbiturate and/or benzodiazepine, comprising administering an effective dose of fenfluramine along with the opioid and the benzodiazepine and/or barbiturate, thereby lowering the risk of respiratory depression in the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.