Intranasal and transdermal administration of kappa-opioid-receptor agonists: salvinorin a for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and addictive disorders

Abstract

Methods of treating neuropsychiatric disorders including affective disorders and addiction involve intranasal or transdermal administration of a substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist that is also a partial D2 agonist, such as the compound salvinorin A. Also disclosed are intranasal, transdermal and/or inhalation systems for delivering the kappa-opioid-receptor agonist.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating tremor caused by administration of a substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist in a patient, the method comprising:
 administering ketamine and/or a cannabinoid in a pharmaceutically acceptable preparation sufficient to treat the tremor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist is salvinorin A. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the salvinorin A is administered intranasally. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the salvinorin A is administered transdermally. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the salvinorin A is administered by combustion and inhalation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has an affective disorder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the patient is treated with the substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist to treat the affective disorder. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist is salvinorin A. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the affective disorder is depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, or depression. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient has an addiction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the patient is treated with the substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist to treat the addiction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially selective kappa-opioid-receptor agonist is salvinorin A. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the addition is to an addictive behavior selected from the group consisting of eating, gambling, sex, pornography, video games, work, exercise, spiritual obsession, self-harm, travel and shopping addiction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ketamine is administered without a cannabinoid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cannabinoid is administered without ketamine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both ketamine and a cannabinoid is administered. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannabinoid is administered by combustion and inhalation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannabinoid is administered by inhalation of a vaporized preparation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ketamine is administered intranasally.