Therapeutic Use of Methionine to Reduce the Toxicity of Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

Abstract

Methods of preventing or reducing ototoxicity in patients undergoing treatment with therapeutically effective amounts of aminoglycoside antibiotics are provided. The methods comprise administering an effective amount of an otoprotective agent comprising methionine or a methionine-like moiety to said patient prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequently to administration of the aminoglycoside antibiotic. Combinations of these time periods can also be employed.

1 . A method for reducing ototoxicity in a patient in need thereof undergoing treatment with an aminoglycoside antibiotic, the method comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of an otoprotective agent selected from the group consisting of L-methionine and a mixture of D-methionine and L-methionine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said otoprotective agent is L-methionine. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said otoprotective agent is a mixture of D-methionine and L-methionine. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said otoprotective agent is administered prior to the administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said otoprotective agent is administered simultaneously with the administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said otoprotective agent is administered subsequently to administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of said otoprotective agent is administered to said patient in a time period from about 36 hours before administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic to about 36 hours after administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of said otoprotective agent is administered to said patient in a time period from about 25 hours before administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic to about 25 hours after administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of said otoprotective agent is administered to said patient in a time period from about 6 hours before administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic to about 6 hours after administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of said otoprotective agent is administered to said patient in a time period from about 1 hour before administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic to about 1 hour after administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said effective amount of said otoprotective agent is administered to said patient in a time period from about one-half hour before administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic to about one-half hour after administration of said aminoglycoside antibiotic.