Anticonvulsant and central nervous system-depressing bis(fluorophenyl)alkylamides and their uses

A method for treating a patient having a neurological disease or disorder comprising administering to said patient a compound having the formula

• wherein:
• each F is independently in either the meta- or para-position;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, and hydroxyalkyl;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of —H, methyl, and ethyl;
• and n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

A method for treating a patient having a neurological disease or disorder comprising administering a compound having the formula

• wherein:
• n is 0, 1, or 2;
• both F are either in the meta- or para-position;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, and hydroxyalkyl;
• and
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of —H, methyl, and ethyl.

A method of alleviating or preventing a symptom of spasticity, or one or more side effects of spasticity, in a patient, comprising

• administering to said patient a compound having the formula
• wherein:
• Y is independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —F, and —Cl;
• X is either —NR1R2 or —OR1;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, and hydroxyalkyl;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of —H, methyl, and ethyl;
• and n is either 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.

A method for modulating CNS activity, comprising

• administering to a patient a compound having the formula
• wherein:
• Y is independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —F, and —Cl;
• X is either —NR1R2 or —OR1;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of —H, alkyl, and hydroxyalkyl;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of —H, methyl, and ethyl;
• and n is either 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4.