Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods Utilizing a D-Amino Acid

Abstract

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a D-amino acid combined with an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of vitamin E, vitamin C, a glutathione or a precursor thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a D-amino acid combined with an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of vitamin E, vitamin C, a glutathione or a precursor thereof. 
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1  in which the D-amino acid is selected from the group consisting of D-serine, D-alanine, D-cysteine, D-homocysteine, or D-threonine 
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antioxidant is glutathione or a precursor thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 3  wherein the glutathione precursor is selected from the group consisting of L-cysteine or N-acetyl-L-cysteine and racemic versions or combinations thereof 
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antioxidant is vitamin E. 
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1  wherein the antioxidant is vitamin C. 
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition according to of  claim 1  where the D-amino acid and antioxidant are present in molar ratios of between 1:10 and 10:1. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by attenuated NMDA neurotransmission comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, psychosis NOS, or prodromal schizophrenia 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is autism. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is depression. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is benign forgetfulness. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is a childhood learning disorder. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is attention deficit disorder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is close head injury. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disorder is a movement disorder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  where the movement disorder is Parkinsons disease, Huntingtons chorea, Wilsons disease, Tourette's disease, tic disorders, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by attenuated NMDA neurotransmission in a patient, the method comprising administering to a patient diagnosed as suffering from the neuropsychiatric disorder an oral pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a D-amino acid combined with a an anti-oxidant selected from the group consisting of vitamin E, vitamin C, a glutathione or a precursor thereof