Methods of preventing weight gain

Abstract

Methods for preventing or reducing weight gain due to factors such as drug use, cessation of smoking, and the like in a human subject, utilizing H 1 -receptor agonists that have a pharmacological half-life that allows an efficient treatment regime thereof are disclosed.

1 . A method of preventing or reducing weight gain in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an H 1  agonist, said weight gain being associated with a drug treatment, said drug being an anti-depressant.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said anti-depressant is selected from the group consisting of biproprion hydrochloride, mitrazapine, nefazadone and trazadone.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said weight gain causes a metabolic disorder.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said metabolic disorder is selected from the group consisting of metabolic syndrome, diabetes and dyslipidemia.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said H 1  agonist is betahistine or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said H 1  agonist is a betahistine metabolite.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said betahistine metabolite is 2-(2-aminoethyl)-pyridine.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said betahistine salt is selected from the group consisting of betahistine dihydrochloride, betahistine mesilate, and betahistine trimebutine maleate.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said H 1  agonist is a betahistine derivative.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said betahistine derivative is selected from the group of compounds represented by formula I:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1- -R 12  is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl.  
       
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount ranges from about 2 mg per unit dosage to about 96 mg per unit dosage.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount ranges from about 10 mg per day to about 50 mg per day.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is effected from about 1 to about 4 times per day.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said administering is effected twice per day.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administering is effected according to the development of hunger of the subject.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said H 1  agonist forms a part of a pharmaceutical composition, said pharmaceutical composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is a slow-release composition.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an additional active agent.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said additional active agent is selected from the group consisting of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a muscle relaxant, an antigout agent, an immunosuppressant, a drug affecting bone mineralization, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, an antiarrhythmic drug, an anticoagulant, an antiplatelet, a thrombolytic, a centrally acting drug, a digitalis drug, a nitrate, a peripheral adrenergic antagonist, a vasodilator, an acne medication, an antipruretic agent, an anti-psoriasis agent, an anti-eczema agent, a hypnotic, an anti-histamine, a fibrate, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, a nutritional supplement, a bile acid sequestrant, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, nicotinic acid, a derivative, analog and metabolite thereof, and any mixture thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said additional active agent is a weight control agent.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said weight control agent is an appetite suppressant.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said appetite suppressant is selected from the group consisting of noradrenergic agents, serotonergic agents, dopamingergic agents, endocannabinoid receptor blockers, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said nutritional supplement is histidine.