Use of cyproheptadine to treat organophosphate exposure

Abstract

A method of treating exposure to an organophosphate compound by administering a cyproheptadine compound to a subject in need thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating exposure to an organophosphate compound, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound having a formula selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         (a) X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halo group, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, and an aryl group; 
         (b) X 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a halo group, a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, and an aryl group; and 
         (c) R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C1-4 alkyl group, and a C1-4 alkenyl group, 
         and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. 
       
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the C1-4 alkyl group and the C1-4 alkenyl group of R comprises a substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy group, a mesyloxy group and an amino group. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein X and X 1  are the same. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the C1-4 alkyl group of X and/or X 1  comprises a halogen substituent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the C1-4 alkyl group of X and/or X 1  is a trifluoromethyl group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aryl group of X and/or X 1  comprises a substituent selected from the group consisting of a halo group, a C1-4 alkyl group, and a C1-4 alkoxy group. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the 2, 3, 5, and 6 positions of the piperidine ring of the compound are substituted with C1-4 alkyl groups. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is cyproheptadine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient in combination with the compound. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound administered to the subject is between 0.1 and 10 mg/kg. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound administered to the subject is 3 mg/kg. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound is administered to the subject following exposure of the subject to the organophosphate compound. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of the compound is administered to the subject prior to exposure of the subject to the organophosphate compound. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of administering atropine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of administering pralidoxime (2-PAM). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of administering diazepam. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to treat exposure to an organophosphate compound is selected from the group consisting of sarin, tabun, soman, and VX. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to treat exposure to an insecticide.