Pharmaceutical uses for alpha2delta ligands

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of treating central nervous system disorders and other disorders by administering an alpha2delta ligand such as, for example, a compound of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R 1 is hydrogen or straight or branched lower alkyl, and n is an integer of from 4 to 6.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A method of treating a disorder or condition selected from the group consisting of sleep disorders such as insomnia (e.g., primary insomnia, including psychophysiological and idiopathic insomnia, secondary insomnia, including insomnia secondary to restless legs syndrome, Parkinson's disease or another chronic disorder, and transient insomnia), somnambulism, sleep deprivation, REM sleep disorders, sleep apnea, hypersomnia, parasomnias, sleep-wake cycle disorders, jet lag, narcolepsy, sleep disorders associated with shift work or irregular work schedules, deficient sleep quality due to a decrease in slow wave sleep caused by medications or other sources, and other sleep disorders in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an alpha2delta ligand or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       21 . A method of increasing slow wave sleep and increasing growth hormone secretion in a human subject comprising administering to a human subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an alpha2delta ligand or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is gabapentin.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is pregabalin.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is a compound of the formula X  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein 
 R 1  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 2  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 3  is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl-N(H)—, or pyridyl-N(H)—, wherein each of the foregoing alkyl moieties can be optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms, preferably with from zero to three fluorine atoms, and wherein said phenyl and said pyridyl and the phenyl and pyridyl moieties of said phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl and said pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, respectively, can be optionally substituted with from one to three substituents, preferably with from zero to two substituents, independently selected from chloro, fluoro, amino, nitro, cyano, (C 1 -C 3 )alkylamino, (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms and (C 1 -C 3 )alkoxy optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms;  
 with the proviso that when R 1  is hydrogen, R 2  is not hydrogen.  
 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is gabapentin.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is pregabalin.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the alpha2delta ligand is a compound of the formula X  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein 
 R 1  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 2  is hydrogen or (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms;  
 R 3  is (C 1 -C 6 )alkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl, (C 3 -C 6 )cycloalkyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, phenyl-N(H)—, or pyridyl-N(H)—, wherein each of the foregoing alkyl moieties can be optionally substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms, preferably with from zero to three fluorine atoms, and wherein said phenyl and said pyridyl and the phenyl and pyridyl moieties of said phenyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl and said pyridyl-(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl, respectively, can be optionally substituted with from one to three substituents, preferably with from zero to two substituents, independently selected from chloro, fluoro, amino, nitro, cyano, (C 1 -C 3 )alkylamino, (C 1 -C 3 )alkyl optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms and (C 1 -C 3 )alkoxy optionally substituted with from one to three fluorine atoms;  
 with the proviso that when R 1  is hydrogen, R 2  is not hydrogen.