Use of agonists of the glucocorticosteroid and/or mineralo-corticosteroid receptors, in particular corticosteroids for the treatment of addiction

Abstract

Use of agonists of corticosteroid receptors and/or mineralo-corticoid receptors and an addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof in the production of a medicament for the therapy of an addictive disease triggered by said addictive drug or connected thereto.

1 . Use of agonists of the corticosteroid- and/or mineralo-corticosteroid receptors and an addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the therapy of an addictive disease which is caused by the addictive drug or which is in connection with the addicitve drug.  
     
     
         2 . Use according to  claim 1 , wherein the agonists are corticosteroids or their pharmacodynamic equivalent.  
     
     
         3 . Use according to  claim 2 , wherein the corticosteroids are the compounds cortisol, cortisone, cortisone acetate, corticosterone, prednisolone, prednisone, prednylidene, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, paramethasone, fluorcortolone, deflazacort, cloprednol and fludrocortisone, the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . Use according to any one of claims  1 - 3 , wherein the addictive diseases are selected from the group comprising opiate dependency, psychostimulants, hallucinogen and entactogen dependency, particularly amphetamine, LSD, and MDMA (Ecstasy) dependency, nicotine addiction, cannabinoid dependency, cocaine addiction (inclusive “Crack”) and/or alcoholism as well as polytoxicomanic addiction using said forms of addiction.  
     
     
         5 . Pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of addictive diseases containing the addictive drug responsible for the addictive disease, the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof or another addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof (particularly of an opioid) and at least one agonist of the corticosteroid and/or mineralo-corticosteroid receptors, particularly a corticosteroid.  
     
     
         6 . Pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 5  which contains the addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof in a high dosis, i.e. on the threshold of undesired side effects hazardous to health and at least one corticosteroid in the amount of 0.5-100 mg/day as the maintenance dosage and a 2 to 10 times higher amount for the initial dosage for a patient having a body weight of 60-80 kg.  
     
     
         7 . Method for the treatment of addictive diseases by administration of at least one agonist of the corticosteroid and/or mineralo-corticosteroid receptors, particularly a corticosteroid and an addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof, wherein an addict is administered a combination of agonists of the corticosteroid and/or mineralo-corticosteroid receptors, particularly corticosteroid and addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein prior to the combined application, a preparing treatment with at least one corticosteroid is carried out.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein after the application of the combination of corticosteroid and addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof, an addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof is administered.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein after the combined application a follow-up treatment with a forced application of an addictive drug or the pharmacodynamic equivalent thereof is carried out.