Methods for acute and long-term treatment of drug addiction

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method of treating opioid or opioid-like drug addiction, including acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms, comprising treating an addicted patient with noribogaine at a dosage that provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL (AUC/24 h) under conditions where the QT interval prolongation does not exceed about 50 milliseconds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating opioid or opioid-like drug abuse in a human patient addicted thereto, comprising administering to the patient a dosage of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof that provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL (AUC/24 h), said concentration being sufficient to inhibit or ameliorate said abuse while maintaining a QT interval of less than about 500 ms during said treatment. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is administered as a single dose or multiple doses. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising:
 a) administering an initial dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein the initial dose provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL; and   b) administering at least one additional dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, such that the at least one additional dose maintains the average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL for a period of time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the initial dose is from 75 mg to 120 mg. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional dose is from 5 mg to 25 mg. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one additional dose is administered from 6 hours to 24 hours after the initial dose. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least two additional doses are administered, and further wherein the additional doses are administered from 6 hours to 24 hours after the previous dose. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting an addicted patient who is prescreened to evaluate tolerance for prolongation of QT interval. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating opioid or opioid-like drug abuse in a human patient addicted thereto, comprising administering to the patient a dosage of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof that provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL (AUC/24 h), said concentration being sufficient to inhibit or ameliorate said abuse while maintaining a QT interval prolongation of less than about 20 ms during said treatment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is administered as a single dose or multiple doses. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising:
 a) administering an initial dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein the initial dose provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL; and   b) administering at least one additional dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, such that the at least one additional dose maintains the average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL for a period of time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the initial dose is from 75 mg to 120 mg. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one additional dose is from 5 mg to 25 mg. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one additional dose is administered from 6 hours to 24 hours after the initial dose. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least two additional doses are administered, and further wherein the additional doses are administered from 6 hours to 24 hours after the previous dose. 
     
     
         16 . A method for attenuating withdrawal symptoms in a human patient susceptible to such symptoms due to opioid or opioid-like drug addiction, comprising administering to the patient a dosage of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof that provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL (AUC/24 h), said concentration being sufficient to attenuate said symptoms while maintaining a QT interval of less than about 500 ms during said treatment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the withdrawal symptoms are due to acute withdrawal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is administered as a single dose or multiple doses. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 a) administering an initial dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein the initial dose provides an average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL; and   b) administering at least one additional dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, such that the at least one additional dose maintains the average serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL for a period of time.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the initial dose is from 75 mg to 120 mg. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one additional dose is from 5 mg to 25 mg. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one additional dose is administered from 6 hours to 24 hours after the initial dose. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least two additional doses are administered, and further wherein the additional doses are administered from 6 hours to 24 hours after the previous dose. 
     
     
         24 . A method to prevent relapse of opioid or opioid-like drug abuse in a patient treated to ameliorate said abuse, said method comprising periodically administering to said patient a maintenance dosage of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein the patient is no longer abusing the opioid or opioid-like drug, wherein the dosage is less than about 70% of the therapeutic dose, and further wherein the prolongation of the QT interval is no greater than about 30 ms. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the aggregate dosage of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is from 5 mg to 100 mg per day. 
     
     
         26 . A pharmaceutically acceptable formulation comprising a unit dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein the amount of noribogaine is sufficient to provide a serum concentration of 50 ng/mL to 180 ng/mL (AUC/24 h) when administered to a patient. 
     
     
         27 . The formulation of  claim 26 , wherein the unit dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is administered in one or more dosings. 
     
     
         28 . The formulation of  claim 26 , wherein the unit dose of noribogaine, noribogaine derivative, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof is from 20 mg to 120 mg.