Particular aspects of the present invention provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising isoprenoid-based compounds (e.g.,
farnesol and / or
farnesol analogues or derivatives) or dehydroisoprenoid-based compounds, and novel methods for using same in treating (e.g., suppressing):
alcohol withdrawal syndrome and associated neurological symptoms (e.g., depression, tremor,
anxiety, autonomic hyperactivity (e.g., sweating, increased
blood pressure,
tachycardia), hallucinations,
alcohol withdrawal seizures,
delirium tremens (DT), and memory loss); or for treating in treating convulsive seizure (e.g.,
epileptic seizure, etc.). Particular pharmaceutical compositions and methods comprise the use of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: (2E,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol (all-trans
farnesol); (2Z,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol (cis-farnesol); (E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-trien-3-ol
nerolidol); (2E,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-amine (farnesylamine); (E)-3-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyloxy)
phenol (geranylresorcinol); (2E,6E)-,7,11-dimethyl-3-(
trifluoromethyl)dodeca-2,6,10-trien-1-ol (trifluorofarnesol); and (2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraen-1-ol (all-trans
retinol). According to additional aspects, compounds that target and inhibit enzymes that degrade / metabolize / inactivate the disclosed compounds have utility to induce endogenous accumulation thereof to suppress / prevent, e.g.,
alcohol withdrawal seizures or convulsive seizures.