Method of treating metabolic disorders and depression with dopamine receptor agonists

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and formulations for treating metabolic disorders and depression. In some embodiments, the methods comprise administering a dopamine receptor agonist and an anti-depressant.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 945,555, filed Jun. 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to methods for simultaneously treating metabolic disorders and depression with dopamine receptor agonists.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Dopamine agonists have been useful in the treatment of various diseases such as migraine headache, Parkinson's disease, acromegaly, hyperprolactinemia, prolactinoma, galactorrhea, amenorrhea, and metabolic disorders, including diabetes.[0004]Diabetes, one of the most insidious of the major diseases, can strike suddenly or lie undiagnosed for years while attacking the blood vessels and nerves. Diabetics, as a group, are far more often afflicted with blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, hearing loss, gangrene and impotence. One third of all visits to physicians in the U.S. are occasioned by this disease and its c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a method for treating metabolic disorders and depression by administering a therapeutically effective amount of dopamine receptor agonists. The method can involve administering the agonists at different times of the day, such as in the morning and evening, or in a combination with an anti-depressant. The metabolic disorder to be treated can be Type 2 diabetes, obesity, or cardiovascular disease. The dopamine receptor agonist used in the method can be bromocriptine. The invention also provides a dosage form that includes both an anti-depressant and a dopamine agonist, with the agonist being released quickly after administration and the anti-depressant being released within a few hours of waking.

Problems solved by technology

One third of all visits to physicians in the U.S. are occasioned by this disease and its complications, and diabetes and its complications are a leading cause of death in the U.S. and other countries.

Diabetes adversely affects the way the body uses sugars and starches which, during digestion, are converted into glucose.

In Type 2 diabetes the pancreas produces insulin, but the amount of insulin is insufficient, or less than fully effective due to cellular resistance, or both.

Thus, these result, as a consequence of the diabetic condition, in elevated levels of glucose in the blood, and prolonged high blood sugar, which is indicative of a condition which will cause blood vessel and nerve damage.

Controlled diet and exercise can produce modest results in the reduction of body fat deposits.

Moreover, anti-depressant medication use appears to be associated with diabetes risk (Diabetes Care, 31:420, 2008).

It is clear that the coexistence of these disorders hampers the effective treatment of either disorder and therefore adversely influences the quality of life of these type patients.

But, co-treatment of metabolic disorders and depression can be difficult insofar as most serotonin-enhancing anti-depressants and tricyclic anti-depressants that increase prolactin release potentiate or exacerbate metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, and Type 2 diabetes.