Pharmaceutical uses for alpha2delta ligands

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of treating central nervous system disorders and other disorders by administering an alpha2delta ligand such as, for example, a compound of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 1 is hydrogen or straight or branched lower alkyl, and n is an integer of from 4 to 6.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A method of treating a disorder or condition selected from mood disorders, such as depression, or more particularly, depressive disorders, for example, major depressive disorder, severe unipolar recurrent major depressive episodes, dysthymic disorder, depressive neurosis and neurotic depression, melancholic depression including anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, early morning waking or psychomotor retardation, atypical depression (or reactive depression) including increased appetite, hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or irritability; treatment resistant depression; seasonal affective disorder and pediatric depression; premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, hot flashes, bipolar disorders or manic depression, for example, bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder and cyclothymic disorder; seasonal affective disorder, conduct disorder and disruptive behavior disorder; stress related somatic disorders and anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, agoraphobia without history of panic disorder, specific phobias (e.g., specific animal phobias), social anxiety disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an alpha2delta ligand or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       21 . A method of treating a disorder or condition selected from the group consisting of borderline personality disorder; schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, for example, schizophreniform disorders, schizoaffective disorders, delusional disorders, brief psychotic disorders, shared psychotic disorders, psychotic disorders due to a general medical condition, psychotic disorders with delusions or hallucinations, substance induced psychotic disorder, psychotic episodes of anxiety, anxiety associated with psychosis, psychotic mood disorders such as severe major depressive disorder; mood disorders associated with psychotic disorders such as acute mania and depression associated with bipolar disorder, mood disorders associated with schizophrenia; and behavioral disturbances associated with mental retardation in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an alpha2delta ligand or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is gabapentin.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is pregabalin.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is a compound of the formula X  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein 
 R 1  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 2  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 3  is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl-N(H)—, or pyridyl-N(H)—, wherein each of the foregoing alkyl moieties can be optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms, preferably with from zero to three fluorine atoms, and wherein said phenyl and said pyridyl and the phenyl and pyridyl moieties of said phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl and said pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, respectively, can be optionally substituted with from one to three substituents, preferably with from zero to two substituents, independently selected from chloro, fluoro, amino, nitro, cyano, (C 1 -C 3 )alkylamino, (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms and (C 1 -C 3 )alkoxy optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms;  
 with the proviso that when R 1  is hydrogen, R 2  is not hydrogen.  
 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is gabapentin.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is pregabalin.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is a compound of the formula X  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein 
 R 1  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 2  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 3  is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl-N(H)—, or pyridyl-N(H)—, wherein each of the foregoing alkyl moieties can be optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms, preferably with from zero to three fluorine atoms, and wherein said phenyl and said pyridyl and the phenyl and pyridyl moieties of said phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl and said pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, respectively, can be optionally substituted with from one to three substituents, preferably with from zero to two substituents, independently selected from chloro, fluoro, amino, nitro, cyano, (C 1 -C 3 )alkylamino, (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms and (C 1 -C 3 )alkoxy optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms;  
 with the proviso that when R 1  is hydrogen, R 2  is not hydrogen.