The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 12, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 16, 2002
Richard B. Mailman, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
David E. Nichols, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Xuemei Huang, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Richard B. Mailman, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
David E. Nichols, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Xuemei Huang, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, IN (US);
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to the treatment of dopamine-related dysfunction using full Ddopamine receptor agonists in an intermittent dosing protocol with a short, but essential, 'off-period.' The Dagonist concentration is reduced during the 'off-period' to obtain a plasma concentration of agonist that suboptimally activates Ddopamine receptors for a period of time to prevent induction of tolerance. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of periodically administering to a patient a full Dagonist with a half-life of up to about 6 hours at a dose resulting in a first plasma concentration of agonist capable of activating Ddopamine receptors to produce a therapeutic effect. The dose is reduced at least once every 24 hours to obtain a second lower plasma concentration of agonist that results in suboptimal activation of Ddopamine receptors for a period of time sufficient to prevent induction of tolerance.