Use of gabaa receptor antagonists for the treatment of excessive sleepiness and disorders associated with excessive sleepiness

Abstract

GABA A receptor mediated hypersomnia can be treated by administering a GABA A receptor antagonist (e.g., flumazenil; clarithromycin; picrotoxin; bicuculline; cicutoxin; and oenanthotoxin). In some embodiments, the GABA A receptor antagonist is flumazenil or clarithromycin. The GABA A receptor mediated hypersomnia includes shift work sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, narcolepsy, excessive sleepiness, hypersomnia (e.g., idiopathic hypersomnia; recurrent hypersomnia; endozepine related recurrent stupor; and amphetamine resistant hypersomnia), and excessive sleepiness associated with shift work sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, and hypersomnia (e.g., idiopathic hypersomnia; recurrent hypersomnia; endozepine related recurrent stupor; and amphetamine resistant hypersomnia.

1 .- 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A method for treating excessive sleepiness in a subject with a disorder associated with excessive sleepiness, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a GABA A  receptor antagonist to the subject with the disorder associated with excessive sleepiness. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, shift work sleep disorder, and hypersomnia. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the disorder is narcolepsy. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the GABA A  receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of flumazenil, clarithromycin, picrotoxin, bicuculline, cicutoxin, and oenanthotoxin. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the GABA A  receptor antagonist is flumazenil or clarithromycin. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the GABA A  receptor antagonist is clarithromycin.