Title:  Sleep quality improvement using a growth hormone secretagogue

United States Patent:  6,313,133

Assignee:  Arch Development Corporation (Chicago, IL)

Filed:  January 27, 2000

Methods for re-establishing normal sleep patterns in adults with age-related sleep disorders are provided. In particular, methods are disclosed wherein a compound that stimulates growth hormone and/or prolactin secretion is orally administered to subjects just prior to retiring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide methods of improving the sleep quality in persons having hormonally-related alterations in sleep. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to identify individuals with age-related sleep disorders and, by increasing the levels of GH and prolactin secretion, improve the sleep quality of these individuals.

In fulfilling these objects, there is provided a method of improving sleep quality comprising the steps of (a) identifying a subject having age-related sleep disorder; and (b) administering to said subject an amount of the drug N-[1(R){[1,2-dihydro-1-methanesulfonylspiro-(3H-indole-3,4'-piperidin)-1'y l]carbonyl}-2-(phenylmethoxy)-ethyl]-2-amino-2-methylpropanamide methanesulfonate.

In one embodiment, the subject is at least about forty years old and, in another embodiment, the subject is at least about fifty years old and, in still another embodiment, the subject is at least about sixty years old. In still another embodiment, the subject is experiencing difficulty sleeping. And in still another embodiment, the administration occurs one hour prior to retiring, more preferably within one-half hour of retiring.

In another embodiment, the effective amount of the drug is 1.0-50.0 grams. In yet other embodiments, the effective amount of the drug is 5.0 mg., 10.0 mg. or 25.0 mg. The dosing preferably is oral.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Claim 1 of 5 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for enhancing the quality of sleep in a mammal comprising orally administering an effective amount of a growth hormone secretagogue.

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