GB2204240A

GB2204240A - Anti-smoking compositions

Info

Publication number: GB2204240A
Application number: GB08810509A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter S Mueller
Original assignee: Sandoz AG
Current assignee: Sandoz AG
Priority date: 1987-05-07
Filing date: 1988-05-04
Publication date: 1988-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-04
Also published as: JPS63287723A; SE8801708L; GB2204240B; CH675834A5; DK245388A; ZA883237B; FR2614789A1; AU1560588A; FR2614789B1; NL8801171A; IT8847906A0; KR880013556A; AU622614B2; DK245388D0; GB8810509D0; PH25495A; IT1219564B; DE3814521A1; SE8801708D0

Description

NEW USE OF DOPAMINE RECEPTOR AGONISTS The present invention relates to a

new use of dopamine receptor agonists.

More particularly the present invention relates to the use of direct dopamine receptor agonists for treating nicotine addiction, in particular for treating withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing treatment for nicotine abuse and for preventing craving for nicotine after withdrawal.

Especially the present invention relates to the use of direct dopamine agonists for controlling tobacco consumption, e.g.

smoking, in particular for treating withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing treatment for reducing or stopping tobacco consumption, e.g. smoking, and for preventing need for tobacco after withdrawal.

Tobacco use and smoking in particular has become recognized over the last few decades as a major medical and social problem. This includes not only cigarette smoking, but also cigar and pipe smoking and smokeless tobacco use including chewing tobacco and snuff. Because of the medical problems associated with its use, 2 the majority of tobacco users would like to stop or at least reduce the amount of tobacco consumed each day. In addition to the medical problems, there are also restrictions now relating to smoking in the work place and in public areas, such as restaurants and shopping centers, which also require smokers to exercise considerably greater control over their smoking habits.

However, many people find it virtually impossible, especially in the case of cigarettes, to control their tobacco habit. Where a person, for example, has stopped smoking cigarettes completely, there is oftentimes a continuous craving, and if that person tries to alleviate the craving by smoking even just one cigarette, he or she very quickly returns to his or her original level of consumption. Similarly, if one tries to cut down on the amount of tobacco used, such as the number of cigarettes smoked each day, the craving increases in intensity, and the smoker soon returns to the former level of use. Prior to this invention, tobacco users, especially smokers, had to rely on will power and complete abstention to manage their tobacco habit. There was no known drug which permitted the users to control effectively their craving or use of tobacco.

In the present invention, it has been found that nicotine addiction, in particular smoking, especially cigarette smoking, can be controlled by administering to a human nicotine abuser a long-acting direct dopamine receptor agonist in an amount which is effective in reducing or eliminating the craving for nicotine when cutting down on smoking or stopping completely. Direct dopamine receptor agonists stimulate receptors in contrast to indirect dopaminergic agents, which are active only on dopanlinergic neurons.

The dopamine agonist can be any direct dopamine stimulating agent, such as bromocriptine, pergolide, lisuride and lergotrile, to name a few. The preferred dopamine agonist of the invention is bromocriptine. The amount of agonist administered will vary 3 depending on the active agent used and the individual undergoing treatment. It has been found, however, that good results are obtained in the majority of cases with daily dosages in the lowest range utilized for the agonists, known indications. Bromo criptine is generally administered in individual dosages ranging from 0.5 to 10 milligrams per day. Pergolide and lisuride are effective at daily doses of about 0.05 to 1.0 milligram.

Generally, the daily dosage for the ergot alkaloid type dopamine agonist for the nicotine indication will be from about 0.05 to, in some cases, about 50 milligrams per day. Normally, at least 0.5 milligram of the agonist is administered daily for the use, and in most cases, it is not necessary to exceed 20 milligrams a day. The agonist is usually administered on a set schedule, for example, every 4 to 6 hours, or it can be administered as needed to control tobacco use. It can also be administered once a day in a controlled release form. Generally, the preferred agonist, bromocriptine, is administered at doses of from about 0.5 to milligrams per day, although higher doses may be required by some individuals to control their tobacco habit. In most cases, however, it is administered in unit doses of about 0.5 to 2.5 milligrams 2 to 4 times daily, preferably 2.5 milligrams 3 times daily conveniently at mealtime. Normally, the initial dose of bromocriptine is about 0.5 to 1, preferably about 0.625 milligrams, 3 times a day for one week; then about 1 to 2, preferably 1.25, milligrams 3 times a day for the second week; and from then on, about 2 to 4, preferably 2.5, milligrams 3 times a day or as needed. It will be appreciated that such doses may be lower than those administered for the known indications of this drug, which can range from about 7.5 to about milligrams daily.

4 When appropriate, the dopamine agonist used in the invention may be employed in free base form or in pharmaceutically acceptable salt form. The various ergot derivatives referred to above may, for example, be used in the form of the mesylate or hydrochloride salt. Generally, the activities of such salt forms will be of the same order as that of the corresponding free base form, and references to compounds in the free base form throughout the specification and claims are to be understood as including known salt forms.

The active ingredient of the invention may be administered orally or parenterally as such or admixed with conventional pharma ceutical carriers. They may be administered orally in such forms as tablets, dispersible powders, granules, capsules, syrups and elixirs, or parenterally as solutions, e.g., a sterile injectable aqueous solution. Tablets may contain the active ingredients in admixture with conventional pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, e.g., inert diluents and granulating, disintegrating and lubricating agents. The tablets or the active ingredient may be uncoated or coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. Similarly, suspensions, syrups and elixirs may contain the active ingredients in admixture with any of the conventional excipients utilized in the preparation of such compositions. Capsules may contain the active ingredients alone or admixed with an inert solid diluent. The injectable compositions are formulated as known in the art. These pharmaceutical preparations may contain up to about 90 % of the active ingredients in combination with the carrier or adjuvant.

Thus the present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition which incorporates a direct dopamine receptor agonist for use in the treatment of nicotine addiction.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing the most preferred compound, bromocriptine mesylate, at dosages of 2.5 and 5 milli grams and suitable for oral administration in accordance with the invention are commercially available. The tablet form is readily broken in half or into quarters for administration of lower doses. Preferably the 2.5 milligram form is administered 3 times a day at meal time. Alternatively, a unit dosage in delayed release form containing equivalent dosages, e.g. 10 milligrams, may be employed.

Tablets having a diameter of 6 mm and the following composition may be prepared according to conventional methods and are suitable for use in the treatment of nicotine addiction.

0.574 mg of bromocriptine mesylate correspond to 0.5 mg of the free base form.

Bromocriptine mesylate 0.574 mg Disodium salt of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid 2H20 0.325 mg Silicium dioxide (Aerosil 200) 0.225 mg Lactose 71.076 mg Magnesium stearate 0.450 mg Corn starch 11.700 mg Maleic acid 0.650 mg 85.000 mg The present invention also provides a method of treating nicotine addiction, particularly for treating withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing treatment for nicotine abuse and for pre venting craving for nicotine after withdrawal, which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of a direct dopamine receptor agonist.

6 Moreover the present invention provides the use of a direct dopamine receptor agonist for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of nicotine addiction.

The following examples illustrate the invention.

7 EXAMPLE 1

A 55-year-old female, married and a professional, smoked 1 to 2 packs of cigarettes a day since the age of 15. She smoked approximately 1 pack a day for about 20 years and gradually increased to 2 packs a day for the last 20 years. She began taking 2.5 milligrams of bromocriptine twice a day on an irregular basis, gradually increasing to 2.5 milligrams 3 times a day. After approximately two months, she decided that she wanted to stop smoking completely and found that she was able to do so without the usual craving. She subsequently found that she was able to smoke socially at parties and professional functions without returning to her former level of consumption. At the present time, she estimates that she smokes at most approximately 3 packs of cigarettes a year.

EXAMPLE 2

A 42-year-old male construction worker began smoking at the age of 14; and for approximately 28 years, he consumed 1 pack of cigarettes a day. At one point, he stopped smoking for about two months, but began smoking again and was quickly back to 1 pack a day. He began taking 2.5 milligrams of bromocriptine 3 times a day; and for six months, he was able to reduce his smoking to 7 cigarettes a day. At this point, he stopped taking bromo criptine and began taking the central stimulant methylphenidate, which is an indirect dopaminergic agent. Within a very short period of time, he was back to 1 pack of cigarettes a day.

the direct dopamine receptor agonist, bromocriptine, reduced craving and allowed this individual to control his smoking. The indirect dopamine receptor agonist, on the other hand, permitted cigarette craving to return to normal; and eventually the man returned to his original level of consumption.

8 EXAMPLE 3

A 43-year-old female began smoking at the age of 17 and smoked about one-half pack of cigarettes a day for approximately 24 years. At one time, she stopped smoking for about 2 years but eventually returned to her former level of use. She began taking 2.5 milligrams of bromocriptine 3 times a day and soon completely stopped smoking. As in the Example 1 case above. she subsequently found that she could smoke socially without returning to her former level of consumption. She now smokes 1 or 2 cigarettes one or twice a year.

EXAMPLE 4

A SO-year-old female began smoking cigarettes at the age of 16 and smoked one-half pack a day until she was 27. She gradually increased her consumption to one pack a day. At age 44, she stopped smoking completely for 6 months. She started smoking again; and by age 45, she was smoking one and a half packs a day.

Her doctor put her on 2.5 milligrams of bromocriptine 3 times a day; and her smoking dropped to less than one-half pack a day.

She experienced no craving or any great need to smoke. The doctor then took her off bromocriptine and put her on methylphenidate.

Within a very short period of time, her consumption was back up to one and a half packs of cigarettes a day.

EXAMPLE 5

For 20-1/2 years, a 30-year-old man had consumed each month about cans of a commercial snuff product containing approximately 1.2 oz. per can. This was administered by inserting a small amount of the snuff between his gum and cheek. On various occasions, he tried to give up the habit by stopping in the morning. However, by the afternoon, the craving for snuff and the 9 withdrawal symptoms, including sweating and anxiety, became intolerable. He started taking 2.5 milligrams of bromocriptine three times a day; and within one week, he completely stopped using the product. There were no withdrawal symptoms; and he has not experienced a craving for smokeless tobacco, since he stopped.

- 10

Claims

WaAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of treating nicotine addiction in a subject in need of such treatment, which comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a direct dopamine receptor agonist.

2. The use of a direct dopamine receptor agonist for the treat ment of nicotine addiction.

3. The use of a direct dopamine receptor agonist for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of nicotine addiction.

4. A pharmaceutical composition which incorporates as active agent a direct dopamine receptor agonist, for use in the treatment of nicotine addiction.

5. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4, for controlling tobacco consumption.

6. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 5, for stopping or reducing smoking.

7. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 4, in which the active agent is bromocriptine in free base form or in pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt form.

8. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7, containing 0.5 to 2.5 milligrams of bromocriptine per unit dose in free base form or in pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt form.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, st mau cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mazj Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.