Use of vitamine B6 for reducing elevated serotonin levels

摘要

A new use of vitamin B6 as an active ingredient in a pharmaceutical composition, more particularly where such B6 is used in combination with xanthine-type bronchodilatorss in compositions and methods for the treatment and prophylaxis of obstructive air passage diseases, in particular bronchial asthma. The composition contains an effective amount of said vitamin B6 formulated to counteract elevated serotonin levels in plasma and urine and serotonin associated side effects arising in the treatment or prophylaxis of obstructive air passage disease with a xanthine bronchodilator, such as a) decreased responsiveness to the xanthine bronchodilator; b) CNS side effects. The vitamin B6 is provided in a combination with the xanthine bronchodilator, as dosage units, but as separate and distinct compounds, and the dose by weight of vitamin B6 is substantially lower than that of the xanthine bronchodilator, preferably in a ratio of vitamin B6 to xanthine bronchodilator of 1:2 to 1:70, more preferably 1:8 to 1:30, and wherein preferably the vitamin B6 as well as the xanthine bronchodilator are incorporated in a slow or sustained release form.