Compositions and methods for treating epilepsy

Abstract

Compositions and methods for treating epilepsy and epileptic syndromes are described herein. The compositions and methods include therapeutically effective amounts of one or more dimebolins, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a disease selected from the group consisting of epilepsy and epileptic syndromes in a patient in need of relief, the method comprising the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of one or more dimebolins or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of co-administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more NMDA receptor antagonists or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the NMDA receptor antagonists is selected from the group consisting of riluzole, memantine, and dextromethorphan, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of co-administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more other anti-epileptic drugs, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the other anti-epileptic drug is a sodium channel blocker 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of co-administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more statins, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of co-administering a therapeutically effective amount of one or more AMPA antagonists, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the disease is a generalized epilepsy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is tonic-clonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is clonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the clonic epilepsy has tonic features. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the clonic epilepsy does not have has tonic features. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is typical absence epilepsy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is atypical absence epilepsy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is myoclonic absence epilepsy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is tonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is myoclonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is massive bilateral myoclonus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is an eyelid myoclonia. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the eyelid myclonia is accompanied by absence seizures. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the eyelid myclonia is not accompanied by absence seizures. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is myclonic-atonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is negative myoclonus. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is atonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the generalized epilepsy is reflex epilepsy. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the disease is a focal epilepsy. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the focal epilepsy is focal sensory epilepsy. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the focal sensory epilepsy presents with elementary sensory symptoms. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the focal sensory epilepsy presents with experiential sensory symptoms. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the focal epilepsy is focal motor epilepsy. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the focal motor epilepsy presents with elementary clonic motor signs. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the focal motor epilepsy presents with asymmetrical tonic motor seizures. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the focal motor epilepsy presents with typical automatisms. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the focal motor epilepsy presents with hyperkinetic automatisms. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the focal motor epilepsy presents with focal negative myoclonus. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the focal motor epilepsy presents with inhibitory motor seizures. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the focal epilepsy is gelastic epilepsy. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the focal epilepsy is hemiclonic epilepsy. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the focal epilepsy is secondarily generalized epilepsy. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the focal epilepsy is reflex seizures in focal epilepsy syndromes. 
     
     
         41 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more dimebolins and a therapeutically effective amount of one or more NMDA receptor antagonists, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the foregoing; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, or excipients therefor, and combinations thereof; wherein the one or more dimebolins and the one or more NMDA receptor antagonists are adapted to be co-administered in the method of any one of  claims 1  to  7 . 
     
     
         42 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more dimebolins and a therapeutically effective amount of one or more other anti-epileptic drugs, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the foregoing; and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents, and excepients therefor, and combinations thereof; wherein the one or more dimebolins and one or more anti-epileptic drugs are adapted to be co-administered in the method of any one of  claims 1  to  7 . 
     
     
         43 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 42  further comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more NMDA receptor antagonists or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the one or more dimebolins, the one or more other anti-epileptic drugs, and the one or more NMDA receptor antagonists are adapted to be co-administered in the method of any one of  claims 1  to  7 .