Compositions Comprising Nicotinic Agonists and Methods of Using Same

Abstract

The disclosure is directed at least in part to compositions and methods comprising nicotinic agonists for treating e.g., nervous system disorders, in particular, to combination therapies that include a nicotinic agonist (for example, nicotine) and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor desensitization inhibitor (for example, opipramol).

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method of treating anxiety or depression, comprising co-administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of nicotine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or N-oxide thereof, and opipramol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. 
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein administration of a nicotinic agonist after said co-administration prolongs the duration of the nicotinic agonist effect by about a factor of two as compared to administering to the patient the nicotinic agonist alone. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said opipramol reduces the desensitization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to said nicotine for at least about 12 hours. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol are administered together in the same dosage form. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol are administered in separate dosage forms. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol, are each administered via a formulation chosen from: oral, parenteral, mucosal, inhalation and transdermal formulations, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the nicotinic agonist is administered transdermally. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol are administered in one transdermal patch. 
     
     
         27 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein about 5 mg/day to about 21 mg/day of the nicotine is administered. 
     
     
         36 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol are present in a weight ratio of nicotine:opipramol of about 1:2 to about 1:100. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol are present in a weight ratio of nicotine:opipramol of about 1:5 to about 1:20. 
     
     
         49 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said nicotine and said opipramol are present in a weight ratio of nicotine:opipramol of about 1:1. 
     
     
         68 . A method of treating anxiety, comprising co-administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of nicotine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or N-oxide thereof, and opipramol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. 
     
     
         69 . A method of treating depression, comprising co-administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of nicotine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or N-oxide thereof, and opipramol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof.