Method for treating symptoms of the onset of menopause using chromium

Abstract

The method of this invention is directed to a treatment of alcohol craving in men and women and to a treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) in women by administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of chromium in a pharmaceutically acceptable form either alone or in conjunction with the administration of a standard antidepressant composition, such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor composition. Chromium is administered to the patient at dosages in a preferred range of about 200 to about 500 micrograms chromium.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating alcohol craving in a patient, the method comprising the steps of (a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of chromium in a pharmaceutically acceptable form to a patient in need thereof; and (b) relieving alcohol craving in the patient by said administering of said therapeutically effective amount of chromium.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 50 μg to about 1,000 μg daily.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to    claim 2    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 100 μg to about 600 μg daily.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to    claim 3    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 200 μg to about 500 μg daily.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein the therapeutically effect amount is administered at least once a day.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein the therapeutically effect amount is administered at least twice a day.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein the therapeutically effect amount is administered three times a day.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to    claim 1    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 1 μg to about 10 μg per kilogram body weight of the patient daily.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to    claim 8    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 2 μg to about 8 μg per kilogram body weight of the patient daily.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to    claim 9    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 4.5 μg to about 6 μg per kilogram body weight of the patient daily.  
     
     
         11 . A method of treating alcohol craving in a patient, the method comprising the steps of (a) administering a therapeutically effective amount of chromium in a pharmaceutically acceptable form to a patient in need thereof, said treating of alcohol craving being free of administering to the patient other compositions to treat alcohol craving; and (b) relieving alcohol craving in the patient by said administering of said therapeutically effective amount of chromium.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 50 μg to about 1,000 μg daily.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 12    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 100 μg to about 600 μg daily.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 13    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 200 μg to about 500 μg daily.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein the therapeutically effect amount is administered at least once a day.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein the therapeutically effect amount is administered at least twice a day.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein the therapeutically effect amount is administered three times a day.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to    claim 11    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 1 μg to about 10 μg per kilogram body weight of the patient daily.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to    claim 18    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 2 μg to about 8 μg per kilogram body weight of the patient daily.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to    claim 19    wherein chromium is administered in a dose ranging from about 4.5 μg to about 6 μg per kilogram body weight of the patient daily.