Dextromethorphan and oxidase inhibitor for weaning patients from narcotics and anti-depressants
US6207674A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61P25/36
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Patients can be helped to break free of addictive or habit-forming narcotics and anti-depressants, by treatment using two drugs. One drug is dextromethorphan (DM), which has been used for decades as an anti-tussive (cough-suppressing) drug in cough syrups. The other drug is an oxidase inhibitor which suppresses activity of a liver enzyme called cytochrome P450-2D6 (also called debrisoquin hydroxylase, sparteine monooxygenase, cytochrome P450-DB, and CYP2D6). In most patients, this oxidase enzyme rapidly degrades DM and converts it into a metabolite called dextrorphan. An oxidase inhibitor (such as quinidine) which suppresses cytochrome P450-2D6 activity increases the half-life and concentration of DM in the circulating blood. When this combined treatment was administered orally to patients who had become dependent on morphine and anti-depressant drugs because of chronic intractable pain, it initially helped the patients reduce their dosages of morphine and other drugs, including anti-depressants. When additional testing was done, the combined treatment allowed patients to entirely terminate all use of morphine and anti-depressants, with minimal withdrawal or other adverse effects. …
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