Pharmaceutical preparation comprising eicosapentaenoic acid and/or stearidonic acid

Abstract

A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of schizophrenia and/or tardive dyskinesia using an oil comprising eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or stearidonic acid (SA) in amounts of more than 20%, preferably more than 40% and very preferably more than 70% by weight of the total (preferably of the total unsaturated) fatty acids present.

1 . A pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of schizophrenia and/or tardive dyskinesia, using an oil comprising eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or stearidonic acid (SA) in amounts of more than 20%, preferably more than 40% and very preferably more than 70% by weight of the total (preferably of the total unsaturated) fatty acids present and wherein the weight ratio of SA/EPA to n-6 EFAs present is not less than 3:1 and is preferably 4:1 or more, or n-6 EFAs are absent:  
     
     
         2 . A method of treating, or a method of preparation of a medicament for treating, schizophrenia and/or tardive dyskinesia whereby EPA and/or SA is provided in the form of an oil containing more than 20% of said acid(s), preferably more than 40% and very preferably more than 70% by weight of the total (preferably total unsaturated) fatty acids present and wherein the weight ratio of SA/EPA to n-6 EFAs present is not less than 3:1 and is preferably 4:1 or more, or n-6 EFAs are absent.  
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 1 , or method according to  claim 2 , wherein the weight ratio of SA/EPA to any DHA present is not less than 3:1 and is preferably 4:1 or more.  
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 1  or  3  or method according to  claim 2  or  3  but for the treatment of depression.  
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 1  or  3  or method according to  claim 2  or  3  but for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease or other dementias.  
     
     
         6 . Pharmaceutical preparation or medicament prepared as above which is suited to, or a method of treatment as above which employs, administration of 10 mg to 100 g, preferably 100 mg to 20 g, very preferably 500 mg to 10 g, EPA and/or SA daily.  
     
     
         7 . Use of EPA and/or SA in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of schizophrenia and/or tardive dyskinesia, or depression, or Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, in the forth set out in  claim 1 , for the administration of 10 mg to 100 g, preferably 100 mg to 20 g, very preferably 500 mg to 10 g, EPA and/or SA daily, with the weight ratio of SA/EPA to n-6 EFAs if present set out in claims  1  and  2  and desirably with the SA/EPA to DHA ratio set out in  claim 3;  and such treatment itself.