Pharmaceutical compositions and methods utilizing a d-amino acid

Abstract

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a D-amino acid combined with an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of vitamin E, vitamin C, a glutathione or a precursor thereof.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition, comprising:
 D-serine; and   a nephrotoxicity-reducing amount of L-cysteine,   
       wherein the ratio between the D-serine and the L-cysteine is between 2:1 and 1:1, and 
       wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for oral administration. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a nephrotoxicity reducing amount of N-acetyl-L-cysteine. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of vitamin E and vitamin C. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of vitamin E and vitamin C. 
     
     
         5 . A method for treating a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by attenuated NMDA neurotransmission in a patient, the method comprising:
 orally administering to the patient:
 a therapeutically effective amount of D-serine; and 
 a nephrotoxicity-reducing effective amount of L-cysteine. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising orally administering to the patient a nephrotoxicity-reducing effective amount of N-acetyl-L-cysteine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising administering to the patent at least one of an effective amount of vitamin E and vitamin C. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising administering to the patent at least one of an effective amount of vitamin E and vitamin C. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio between the D-serine and the L-cysteine administered to the patient is between 2:1 and 1:1. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the D-serine and the L-cysteine are provided in a combined composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the D-serine, the L-cysteine, and the N-acetyl-L-cysteine are provided in a combined composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the neuropsychiatric disease is schizophrenia.