Method for chemical promotion of the effects of low current transcranial electrostimulation

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is an indoleamine, catchecholamine, amino acid present in the central nervous system, amino acid or peptide capable of inducing a central nervous system response, combination of amino acids, combination of amino acids with an aspirin-like drug, cholinergic of amino acids with an aspirin-like drug, cholinergic agent, peptide capable of inducing a central nervous system response, or a precursor or synthetic derivative of same, an inhibitor of one of the enzymes active in the metabolic pathways involved in producing or degrading same, an antagonist or binding competitor of same, and combinations of same.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is an enzyme active in the metabolic pathway of peptidyl opiates, a tryptamine derivative, an enzyme active in the metabolic pathway involved in making tryptamine derivatives, an amino acid, a peptide which is a modulator of the central nervous system, or an antagonist of a peptide which is a modulator of the central nervous system.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is selected from the group consisting of lorglumide proglumide, 5-hydroxy-dl-tryptophan, acetorphan, thiorphan, or L-tryptophan.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the current of the transcranial electrostimulation is between approximately 5 and approximately 40 μA.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse width of the transcranial electrostimulation is between approximately 0.1 and approximately 8.0 msec.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the frequency of the transcranial electrostimulation is between approximately 5 and approximately 50 Hz.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein the duration of the transcranial electrostimulation is between approximately 10 and approximately 60 minutes.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is a neuroactive substance found in the brain or central nervous system of the living being.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is an amino acid, an inhibitor of the enzymes active in the metabolic pathways involved in production or degradation of an opioid peptide, an indoleamine, or an antagonist or binding competitor of an endogenous peptide found in the central nervous system of the living being.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is selected from the group consisting of acetorphin, kelatorphin or thiorphan.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is selected from the group consisting of L-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-dl-tryptophan, tyrosine, or D-phenylalanine.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is selected from the group consisting of: precursors or synthetic derivates of endorphine, enkephalins, or dynorphins, inhibitors of the enzymes active in the metabolic pathways involved in producing or degrading endorphins, enkephalins, or dynorphins, and binding competitors or antagonists of endorphins, enkephalins, or dynorphins, amino acids present in the central nervous system or capable of inducing a central nervous system response, inhibitors of the enzymes active in the metabolic pathways involved in producing or degrading such amino acids, and antagonists or binding competitors of such amino acids, peptides present in the central nervous system or capable of inducing a central nervous system response, enzymes active in the metabolic pathways involved in producing or degrading such peptides, inhibitors of the enzymes involved in producing or degrading such peptides, and antagonists or binding competitors of such peptides, and indoleamines, cholinergic agents, or catecholamines, enzymes active in the metabolic pathways involved in producing and degrading indoleamines, cholinergic agents, or catecholamines, precursors of indoleamines, cholinergic agents, or catecholamines, inhibitors of the enzymes involved in producing or degrading indoleamines, cholinergic agents, or catecholamines, and antagonists or binding competitors of indoleamines, cholinergic agents, or catecholamines.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is proglumide, lorglumide 5-hydroxy-di-tryptophan, acetorphan, thiorphan, L-tryptophan or combinations of proglumide, lorglumide 5-hydroxy-dl-tryptophan, acetorphan, thiorphan, and L-tryptophan.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 additionally comprising the concomitant administration of a second neuroactive chemical promoter.

Claim 31

The method of claim 22 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is an indoleamine, catecholamine, amino acid present in the central nervous system, amino acid capable of inducing a central nervous system response, cholinergic agent, peptide capable of inducing a central nervous system response, a precursor, antagonist, or binding competitor of a neurotransmitter, inhibitor of an enzyme active in a metabolic pathway involved in producing or degrading same, and combinations of same.

Claim 32

The method of claim 22 wherein the neuroactive chemical promoter is selected from the group consisting of proglumide, lorglumide, 5-hydroxy-dl-tryptophan, acetorphan, thiorphan, or L-tryptophan, or combinations of same.

Claim 33

The method of claim 22 wherein the duration of the transcranial electrostimulation is between about 10 and about 60 minutes.

Claim 34

The method of claim 22 wherein the transcranial electrostimulation is administrated through electrodes affixed to a low impedance site on the external ear of the mammal.

Claim 35

The method of claim 22 wherein the electrical current of the transcranial electrostimulation is administered using generally rectangular waveforms.