Methods and compositions for alleviating stuttering

A method for alleviating stuttering, in a subject in need thereof, comprising:

• administering a therapeutically effective dose of a gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor modulator, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, enantiomers, or metabolites thereof, wherein the modulator is a cyclopyrrolone having the formula (I):
• wherein:
• R1 and R2 are sterically compatible substituents which are independently selected from the group consisting of:
• hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms comprising at least one of nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus, aryl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and aryl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and comprising at least one nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkenoyloxy, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkylthio, alkanoylamino, alkenoylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, alkoxycarbonylaminoalkyl, cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenyl having 4 to 6 ring members, cycloalkylalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenylalkyl having 4 to 6 ring members, with the proviso that each of the foregoing substituents has up to 8 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, cyano, cyanoalkyl having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, aminocarbonylalkyl having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, aryl, alkaryl, piperazinyl, and methylpiperazinyl;
• X1 and X2 are sterically compatible substituents which are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkenoyloxy, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkylthio, alkanoylamino, alkenoylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, alkoxycarbonylaminoalkyl, cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenyl having 4 to 6 ring members, cycloalkylalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenylalkyl having 4 to 6 ring members, with the additional proviso that each of the foregoing substituents has up to 8 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, cyano, cyanoalkyl having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, aminocarbonylalkyl having 2 to 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• X3 is selected from the group consisting of a
• methylene;
• —C(HR4)— where
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkenoyloxy, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkylthio, alkanoylamino, alkenoylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, alkoxycarbonylaminoalkyl, cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenyl having 4 to 6 ring members, cycloalkylalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenylalkyl having 4 to 6 ring members, with the additional proviso that each of the foregoing substituents has up to 8 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, cyano, cyanoalkyl having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, aminocarbonylalkyl having 2 to 4 carbon atoms;
• amino;
• —N(R5)— where
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenoxy, alkynoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkenoyloxy, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkylthio, alkanoylamino, alkenoylamino, alkoxycarbonyl, alkenoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, alkoxycarbonylaminoalkyl, cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenyl having 4 to 6 ring members, cycloalkylalkyl having 3 to 6 ring members, cycloalkenylalkyl having 4 to 6 ring members, with the additional proviso that each of the foregoing substituents has up to 8 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, halogen, aminocarbonyl, cyano, cyanoalkyl having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, aminocarbonylalkyl having 2 to 4 carbon atoms;
• sulphur;
• phosphorus;
• and oxygen group;
• pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, enantiomers thereof, or metabolites thereof.