Use of 4-phenyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridyl derivatives

A method for the control or treatment of diseases caused by over activation of NMDA receptor subtypes comprising orally administering to a host in need of such control or treatment, a compound of the formula ##STR8## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy;

• R.sup.2 is hydrogen;
• R.sup.3 is hydrogen, amino, ureido, lower alkylcarbonyl, lower alkyl-sulfonylamino, lower alkylcarbamoyl, carbamoyl, lower alkyloxycarbamoyl, lower alkylamino or
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 taken together are --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --;
• X is methylene, hydroxymethylene, lower alkoxymethylene or carbonyl;
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• m is 3 or 4;
• or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in an amount of from about 500 mg to about 1.5 gm per day.