Carbostyril derivatives and serotonin reuptake inhibitors for treatment of mood disorders

Abstract

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention comprises (1) a carbostyril derivative and (2) a serotonin reuptake inhibitor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The carbostyril derivative may be aripiprazole or a metabolite thereof, which is a dopamine-serotonin system stabilizer. The serotonin reuptake inhibitor may be fluoxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, milnacipran, citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline or escitalopram. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is useful for treating patients with mood disorders, particularly depression or major depressive disorder.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising (a) a compound selected from aripiprazole or a metabolite of aripiprazole wherein the metabolite of aripiprazole is selected from the group consisting of dehydroaripiprazole, DM-1458, DM-1451, DM-1452, DM-1454 and DCPP in combination with (b) at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor selected from the group consisting of fluoxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, milnacipran, citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram and salts thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein compound (a) is aripiprazole. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein compound (a) is a metabolite of aripiprazole selected from the group consisting of dehydroaripiprazole, DM-1458, DM-1451, DM-1452, DM-1454 and DCPP. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor is citalopram. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor is escitalopram. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 37 , further comprising at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the composition is useful for treatment of mood disorders. 
     
     
         44 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the mood disorder is depression or major depressive disorder. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 43 , wherein the mood disorder is major depressive disorder, all mood disorders, schizoaffective disorder or dementia with depressive symptoms. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the composition is useful for treatment of major depressive disorder, endogenous depression, melancholia, depression in combination with psychotic episodes, bipolar disorder with depressive phase, refractory depression, dementia of the Alzheimer s type with depressive symptoms, Parkinson's disease with depressive symptoms, senile dementia, mood disorder associated with blood vessels and mood disorder following head injury. 
     
     
         47 . A method of treating a disorder in a patient selected from the group consisting of major depressive disorder, endogenous depression, melancholia, depression in combination with psychotic episodes, bipolar disorder with depressive phase, refractory depression, dementia of the Alzheimer s type with depressive symptoms, Parkinson's disease with depressive symptoms, senile dementia, mood disorder associated with blood vessels and mood disorder following head injury, comprising administration of an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition which comprises (a) a compound selected from aripiprazole or a metabolite of aripiprazole wherein the metabolite of aripiprazole is selected from the group consisting of dehydroaripiprazole, DM-1458, DM-1451, DM-1452, DM-1454 and DCPP in combination with (b) at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor selected from the group consisting of fluoxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, milnacipran, citalopram, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram and salts thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein compound (a) is aripiprazole. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein compound (a) is a metabolite of aripiprazole selected from the group consisting of dehydroaripiprazole, DM-1458, DM-1451, DM-1452, DM-1454 and DCPP 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one serotonin reuptake inhibitor is citalopram. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the disorder is depression or major depressive disorder.