Method of treating depression

Abstract

The monamine oxidase inhibitor drug L-deprenyl (phenylisopropyl methyl propynyl amine) is safely and conveniently used for the treatment of mental depression in a formulation applied to the skin of the patient. In this way the danger of side reaction due to the consumption of foods containing tyramine (the cheese effect) is minimized. Unlike other monamine oxidase drugs, such as Parnate, L-deprenyl does not cause skin irritation when used in this way.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of treating depression in a human patient which comprises maintaining in contact with the skin of said patient a quantity of L-deprenyl or a salt thereof in a form permitting migration of said L-deprenyl or salt thereof through the skin of said patient into the bloodstream of the patient to a sufficient extent to produce a therapeutically effective amount of L-deprenyl within the blood supply to the brain of said patient without causing skin irritation to the patient or inducing a cheese effect in the patient. 
     
     
       2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said L-deprenyl or salt thereof is mixed with an excipient before being applied to the skin of said patient. 
     
     
       3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein said excipient causes the L-deprenyl content of the mixture to migrate into the bloodstream of the patient at a controlled rate, whereby at least said therapeutically effective amount of L-deprenyl is maintained in the blood supply to the brain of said patient continuously throughout a time interval. 
     
     
       4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein said mixture containing L-deprenyl is contained within a patch structure for convenient affixation to a part of the body of said patient in such a manner as to maintain contact between the skin of said patient and said mixture containing L-deprenyl during said time interval. 
     
     
       5. The method defined in claim 4 wherein said time interval is at least one day. 
     
     
       6. A method, according to claim 5, wherein said controlled rate is between 5 and 50 mg of L-deprenyl per day. .Iadd.7. A topical composition for the transdermal administration of L-deprenyl or a salt thereof, comprising a quantity of L-deprenyl or a salt thereof as a sole therapeutically active agent effective upon transdermal migration into the bloodstream to inhibit monoamine oxidase B, in combination with at least one pharmaceutical carrier operable to permit transdermal absorption of L-deprenyl or a salt thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. The topical composition according to claim 7 wherein the quantity of L-deprenyl or a salt thereof is sufficient to provide from about 5 to about 50 mg of L-deprenyl per day to a patient. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The topical composition according to claim 7 wherein 
     
     
        the carrier is an ointment base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  The topical composition according to claim 7 wherein the carrier is a cream base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The topical composition according to claim 7 wherein the composition is incorporated into a transdermal patch structure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The topical composition according to claim 11 wherein the transdermal patch structure comprises a sealed pouch having a top layer impervious to the composition and a bottom membrane for dermal contact through which said L-deprenyl or a salt thereof is slowly porous. .Iaddend.