Pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of the symptoms of addiction and method of diagnosing same

Abstract

A therapeutic agent for the treatment of the symptoms of addiction and the method for preparing the therapeutic agent is disclosed. The therapeutic agent is a stable pharmaceutical preparation containing, but not limited to, digestive/pancreatic enzymes. The therapeutic agent may be manufactured by a variety of encapsulation technologies. Delivery of the therapeutic agent may be made orally, through injection, by adherence of a medicated patch or other method. Further, a method of using of a biomarker, the presence of chymotrypsin in the gastrointestinal tract to determine the presence of symptoms of addiction, and the likelihood of relapsing into addiction is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating an individual exhibiting one or more symptoms of addiction, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical preparation comprising digestive enzymes, whereby the one or more symptoms of addiction are treated. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digestive enzymes-comprise amylase, lipase, and protease. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digestive enzymes consist of amylase, lipase, and protease. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digestive enzymes are derived from a source selected from the group consisting of animal enzymes, plant enzymes, synthetic enzymes, and a combination thereof 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pharmaceutical preparation is manufactured using a technology selected from the group consisting of enteric coating, lipid encapsulation, direct compression, dry granulation, wet granulation, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical preparation is administered orally via a dosage formulation selected from the group consisting of: pills, tablets, capsules, microcapsules, mini-capsules, time released capsules, mini-tabs, sprinkles, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of amylase ranges from 10,000 to 60,000 U.S.P. units/dose. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of protease ranges from 10,000 to 70,000 U.S.P. units/dose. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of lipase ranges from 4,000 to 30,000 U.S.P. units/dose. 
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical preparation for treating an individual exhibiting one or more symptoms of addiction, the pharmaceutical preparation comprising an effective amount of digestive enzymes. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 10 , wherein the digestive enzymes comprise an amylase, a lipase, and a protease. 
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 10 , wherein the digestive enzymes consist of an amylase, a lipase, and a protease. 
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 10 , wherein the digestive enzymes are derived from a source selected from the group consisting of animal enzymes, plant enzymes, synthetic enzymes, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 10 , wherein the pharmaceutical preparation is manufactured using a technology selected from the group consisting of enteric coating, lipid encapsulation, direct compression, dry granulation, wet granulation, and a combination thereof 
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 10 , wherein the pharmaceutical preparation is administered orally via a dosage formulation selected from the group consisting of: pills, tablets, capsules, microcapsules, mini-capsules, time released capsules, mini-tabs, sprinkles, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of amylase ranges from 10,000 to 60,000 U.S.P. units/dose. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of protease ranges from 10,000 to 70,000 U.S.P. units/dose. 
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of lipase ranges from 4,000 to 30,000 U.S.P. units/dose. 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating a gambling addiction in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a pharmaceutical preparation that comprises a therapeutically effective amount of digestive enzymes to the subject, wherein the gambling addiction is treated. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a sex addiction in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a pharmaceutical preparation that comprises a therapeutically effective amount of digestive enzymes to the subject, wherein the sex addiction is treated. 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a shopping addiction in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a pharmaceutical preparation that comprises a therapeutically effective amount of digestive enzymes to the subject, wherein the shopping addiction is treated.