Novel treatment for cough

Abstract

The invention discloses the existence of cannabinoid receptors in the airways, which are functionally linked to inhibition of cough. Locally acting cannabinoid agents can be administered to the airways of a subject to ameliorate cough, without causing the psychoactive effects characteristic of systemically administered cannabinoids. In addition, locally or systemically administered cannabinoid inactivation inhibitors can also be used to ameliorate cough. The present invention also defines conditions under which cannabinoid agents can be administered to produce anti-tussive effects devoid of bronchial constriction.

1 . A method of ameliorating cough comprising the local administration to the upper respiratory airways of a subject in need of such treatment of a cannabinoid compound of formula I:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein 
 X is N—R1 or 0;  
 R is a saturated or unsaturated, chiral or achiral, cyclic or acyclic, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, with 11 to 29 carbon atoms;  
 R1, R3 and R4 are selected independently from hydrogen, alkyl (C1-4), alkenyl (C2-4), alkynyl (C2-4), cycloalkyl (C3-6), or hydroxyalkyl group with from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;  
 R2 is OH or O—CO-alkyl, where the alkyl group has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and  
 n is selected from 2 to 4.  
 
   
   
       2 - 34 . (canceled)