GB2170407A - Pharmaceutical 9,10-dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid containing compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A controlled release formulation for oral administration comprising - a 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid, - a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic swelling substance and - a pharmaceutically acceptable inert fatty material. The alkaloid may be co-dergocrine, dihydroergotamine, epicryptine or 9'-thia-9,10-dihydroergotamine. Suitable swelling agents are cellulose hydrocolloids such as hydropropyl-methylcellulose. The fatty material is preferably a fatty acid ester such as cetyl palmitate. The compositions are particularly useful in treating hypertension and migraine.

Description

SPECIFICATION Pharmaceutical 9,10-Dihydro Ergot Alkaloid Containing Compositions This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing 9,1 0-dihydro ergot alkaloids.

9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloids encompass the 9,10-dihydro-derivatives of natural ergot alkaloids as well as ergot alkaloids obtainable by fermentation or by chemical synthesis. They may e.g. have substituents, e.g. usually known in the chemistry of ergot alkaloids and may exist in the form of isomers, e.g. as 8R- and 8S-isomers, e.g. as described in "Ergot alkaloids and related compounds, Editors B. Berde and H. D. Schild, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 1978, hereinafter referred to as Berde and Schild.

The most preferred compounds are dihydroergocornine, dihydroergocristine, dihydro-a-ergocryptine, dihydro-ss-ergocryptine, and co-dergocrine and dihydroergotamine.

Co-dergocrine is the generic name of a molar 3:3:2:1 mixture of dihydroergocornine, dihydroergocristine, dihydro-a-ergocryptine and dihydro-ss-ergocryptine, (see Berde and Schild, page 58).

For pharmaceutical use co-dergocrine may be used in the form of an acid addition salt, e.g. the ethane-sulphonate, the maleate, fumarate, tartrate, hydrochloride or preferably the mesulate. They exhibit the same order of activity as the free base form and are prepared in manner known per se.

The methanesulphonate salt is listed in the Merck Index, 1983, under the brand name HYDERGIN, see the reference 3596 on pages 526--527. This is also known as ergoloid mesylates.

The pharmacological and clinical properties have been extensively reviewed in the book of Berde and Schild.

Co-dergocrine modifies cerebral neurotransmission and improves impaired cerebral metabolic function. Furthermore, it has a stabilizing effect on the tonus of cranial vessels and has anti-hypertensive activity.

Co-dergocrine is therefore indicated for the treatment of cerebral insufficiency in the elderly and of cerebrovascular disorders, especially when associated with hypertension, as well as for the prevention of migraine.

Usual oral daily dosages are 3 to 6 mg. A recommended oral daily dosage is 4.5 mg, preferably divided into smaller dosages of 1.5 mg three times a day.

Dihydroergocornine, dihydroergocristine, dihydro-a-ergocryptine and dihydro-ss-ergocryptine may be used individually for the same indications in the same dosage order.

The pharmacological and clinical properties of dihydroergotamine have been reviewed as well in Berde and Schild.

The compound may be administered in the form of the free base or of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt. Such acid addition salts are known.

Atypical acid addition salt form is the methanesulphonate salt (the mesylate), described in The Merck Index 1983, reference 3151, and sold under the brand name DIHYDERGOT.

Dihydroergotamine is indicated for use in the treatment of hypotension and orthostatic circulation disturbances, in the treatment of acute migraine attacks and related vascular headaches as well as in the interval treatment of migraine and other vascular headaches.

Further dihydroergotamine is indicated to be active in the treatment of Herpes Zoster.

The drug is usually orally administered in daily dosages of about 1-10 mg.

The present invention provides a controlled release formulation for oral administration comprising: a 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic swelling substance and a pharmaceutically acceptable inert fatty material.

The invention especially provides such a controlled release formulation in which the 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid is a peptide alkaloid.

Hydrophilic swelling substances that are preferred include one or more natural, partially or totally synthetic, anionic or, preferably, nonionic hydrophilic gums, modified cellulose substances or protein aceous substances such as, for example, acacia, gum tragacanth, locust bean gum, guar gum, karaya gum, agar, peptin, carrageen, soluble and insoluble alginates, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellu lose, sodiumcarboxymethylcellu lose, carboxypolymethylene, gelatin.

Preferred are cellulose hydrocolloids which include methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and especially hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellu lose.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable inert fatty materials include beeswax; fatty acids; long chain fatty alcohols, such as, for example, cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, esters, e.g. glycerides such as glyceryl esters of fatty acids or hydrogenated aliphatic acids such as, for example, glyceryl mono-stearate, glyceryl distearate, glyceryl esters of hydrogenated castor oil and the like; oils such as mineral oil and the like. Fatty materials are preferably such with melting points between 30 and 90"C.

Most preferably fatty materials have a melting point from 45"C to 65"C and include glycerides such as glyceryl palmitates and stearates and fatty acids such as hydrogenated castor oil and fatty acid esters such as cetyl palmitate.

The formulation contains preferably both hydroxypropylmethylcellulose as a swelling agent and cetyl palmitate as a fatty material.

It is also convenient to incorporate in the formulation at least one of other soluble or insoluble pharmaceutical excipients such as calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, lactose, mannitol, sucrose, sorbitol, colloidal silica, and magnesium stearate. Preferably a soluble excipient, especially lactose is present. The ratio of hydrocolloid to other excipient, may be e.g. from 1:0.5 to 1:2.

The formulation may be produced in conventional manner by mixing the ingredients together, preferably melting the fatty material. The resultant mixture is in powder form. The powder can be pressed to form a tablet, but is preferably filled into a capsule.

If the fatty material is melted, the drug and additional excipients such as lactose, silica, calcium sulphate or calcium phosphate may be taken up in the molten fatty material. The mixture is then allowed to solidify and is then divided into small particles (granules).

The resultant granulate may be mixed with a, preferably porous, hydrophilic swelling substance and further excipients, e.g. magnesium stearate, and the mixture may be pressed to form a tablet or may be preferably filled into a capsule.

In a preferred aspect the present invention accordingly provides a formulation containing a 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid in a fatty material matrix granulate, the granulate particles being in contact with a hydrophilic swelling substance.

Preferably the swelling substance is present in a porous form.

We have surprisingly found that the formulation possess an excellent stability, despite the fact that the alkaloids are sensitive to many chemical reagents. Moreover, the formulations have a satisfactory pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile.

The resultant retarded formulations in general have comparable bioavailability in standard clinical trials to conventional non-retarded formulations containing the same amounts of alkaloids. The formulations of the invention, even if administered once a day, may produce a therapeutic effect for at least 24 hours and even as much as 35 hours. The formulation may thus be administered only once a day in the known indications of the alkaloids at approximately the same daily doses as employed in the conventional non-retarded forms.

The 9,1 0-dihydro ergot alkaloids especially encompass 9,10-dihydro peptide ergot alkaloids of formula I

The groups R, and R2 may be the same or different, e.g.

R1=(C14)alkyl, and R2=(C,~4)alkyl, or benzyl, and X=CH2 or S.

9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloids encompass 9,10-dihydro peptide ergot alkaloids of formula I in which the carbon atom in position 9' is replaced by a sulfur atom, as disclosed in the British patent 2,109,795 B. The compounds may preferably be used in pharmaceutical form as acid addition salts.

The preferred compound of formula I wherein X=S is 9'-thia-9,1 0-dihydroergotamine. This is preferably used in the form of the hydrogen malonate. The preferred indication is for the prevention and treatment of vascular headaches and for the treatment of orthostatic syndrome. No publications on the clinical use of this active agent have been made and no specific sustained release forms of this agent have been described.

Epicryptine is the generic name of a compound of the formula I in which R,=isopropyl, R2=2R-butyl and X=CH2, and is disclosed in the British patent 2,114,980 B. Its chemical name is: (5R,8R,10R)-N- (2R,5S,11 1S,1 2S)-5-(2R-butyl )-octahydro-1 2-hydroxy-2-isopropyl-3,6-dioxo-8H-oxazolo [3,2-ajpyrrolo[2,1 - e]pyrazinyl]-6-methyl-ergoline-8-carboxylic acid amide. Epicryptine is also known as epicriptine.

The compound may be administered in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt.

Preferably the free base is used.

It is indicated for use in the treatment of lactation, galactorrhoea, hyperprolactinaemic hypogonadism, acromegaly or prolactinoma.

Epicryptine is also indicated for use in the treatment of cerebral insufficiency, e.g. for senile dementia, particularly the early forms thereof, and for increasing vigilance.

Additionally epicryptine is useful in the treatment of hypertonia, especially for geriatrics, and of stroke.

The preferred indication is hypertension.

The compound is administered at a daily dosage of from about 0.1 to 15 mg, preferably 2 to 5 mg.

The administration of the ergot alkaloids used according to the invention can occasionally be associated with adverse side effects, e.g. effects on the heart, vascular effects, central nervous system effects, autonomic and peripheral nervous system and endocrine effects. See Berde and Schild, pages 815820.

We preferably keep the concentration of the ergot alkaloids on a therapeutically active level but between narrow limits and avoid the drug burst which may occur just after administration of non-controlled release preparations. This leads to temporary high blood levels and to proportionately strong adverse effects.

The formulations of the present invention are well tolerated.

Moreover, the present formulations provide similar profiles of activity in food interaction studies, e.g.

before and after administration of breakfast, with fasted subjects.

The present invention especially provides controlled release formulations for oral administration containing co-dergocrine, dihydroergotamine or epicryptine as active agents in unit dosage forms.

The pharmaceutical formulations according to the invention, contain preferably 1 to 15 mg of 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid.

Preferred ratios of 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid to swelling substance are from about 1 :4to 1:50, e.g. 1:4 to 1:25.

Preferred ratios of 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid to fatty material are from 1:0.5 to 1 :10.

Preferred amounts of co-dergocrine in unit dosage form are from 2 to 10 mg, especially 3-6, e.g. 4.5 or 3 mg. Preferably co-dergocrine is in mesylate form.

Preferably the ratio of co-dergocrine to swelling substance is from 1:50 to 1:10, especially from 1:10 to 1 :30, e.g. from 1:15to 1:25.

The ratio of co-dergocrine to the fatty material is preferably from 1:1 to 1:10, especially from 1:1 to 1:5.

If other excipients like lactose or magnesium stearate are present, then preferably the weight ratio of co-dergocrine to the other excipients is conveniently from 1:5 to 1 :40, especially 1:15 to 1:40.

Preferred amounts of dihydroergotamine in unit dosage form are from 4--15 mg, e.g. 5 mg, especially 8-12, e.g. 10 or 7.5 mg. Preferably dihydroergotamine is in mesylate form as well.

Preferably the ratio of dihydroergotamine to swelling substance is from 1:4 to 1 :20, e.g. 1:5 to 1 :20, especially from 1:4to 1:12e.g.from 1:5 to 1:12.

The ratio of dihydroergotamine to the fatty material is preferably from 1:0.5 to 1 :2, especially from 1:0.5 to 1:1.5 e.g. from 1:0.8 to 1:1.5.

If other excipients like lactose, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate ortartaric acid, are present, then preferably the weight ratio of dihydroergotamine to the other excipients is conveniently from 1:3 to 1 :20, especially from 1 :4 to 1 :15.

Epicryptine may also be present as an acid addition salt, but the preferred form in the controlled release formulation is the free base.

The unit dosage form contains preferably an amount of 2 to 7 mg, especially 5 mg of drug.

The present invention provides for the first time an oral pharmaceutical formulation containing 9'-thia-9,10-dihydroergocryptine or epicryptine for once-a-day administration.

Once-a-day formulations may be formulated in conventional manner, e.g. to be a capsule or tablet and may contain from 1 to 15 mg of active agent. Preferably they have the same release profile as determined by in vivo or in vitro dissolution tests as for the formulations of the present invention, e.g. a release of about 50 to 90, e.g. 50 to 60,70 to 80 or 80 to 90 per cent over 7 hours at 0-1 NHCl, e.g. as in the experimental conditions in Example 2.

In the following examples all temperatures are in degrees Centigrade and are uncorrected.

Further information on the properties etc. of the pharmaceutical excipients named hereinafter may be obtained from the manufacturer, listed hereinafter, manufacturer's brochures or other sources, especially H. P. Fiedler Lexikon der Hilfsstoffe für Pharmazie, Kosmetik und angrenzende Gebiete, 2nd Edition 1981, Edito Cantor, Aulendorf, W. Germany.

Silicon dioxide (silica) is e.g. brand Aerosil 200 available from Deutsche-Gold und Silberscheideanstalt, Frankfurt, W. Germany.

Glycerol ditripalmitostearat is e.g. brand Precirol Ato 5 available from ETS Gattefosse 929100 Boulogne-Brillancourt, France.

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 15000 cps and 4000cps are e.g. brands Methocel K15M and Methocel 4EM available from Dow Chemical Company, Michigan 48640 USA.

Cetyl palmitate is e.g. brand Cutina CPA available from Henkel 4000, Düsseldorf, W. Germany, or is available from Gattefossé orfrom A/S Johan C. Martens and Company, Bergen, Norway.

EXAMPLE 1: EXAMPLE 1: Composition of Each Capsule Ingredient mg a) Co-dergocrine (in mesylate form) 4.5 b) Lactose (200 mesh) 124.265 c) Silicon dioxide 10 d) Glycerol ditripalmitostearate 40 e) Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 4000 cps 110 Capsule (Hard gelatine) 78 Preparation (Charge of 6000 capsules) Ingredients a), b) and c) are sieved and mixed. Ingredient d) is melted by heating to 56"C (m.p. 540C) and is added to the mixture which is heated to 550C. The mass is stirred for 2 minutes or until it is a homogenous mixture and cooled overnight. The cooled mass is broken up and sieved (through 250 micron openings).

Ingredient e) is sieved (through 360 micron openings) and mixed in over 10 minutes. The mixture is then encapsulated.

EXAMPLE 2to 5: Composition of Each Capsule Ex. 2 Ex. 3 XEx. 4 Ex. 5 Ingredient mg mg mg mg a) Co-dergocrine in mesylate form 4.5 4.5 ' 3.0 3.0 b) Lactose (200 mesh) 165.5 c) Cetyl palmitate 10.0 8.0 8.0 8.0 dl) Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 90.0 70.0 70.0 (15000 cps) d2) Hydroxypropylmethylcell u lose 90.0 (4000 cps) e) Magnesium stearate 1.0 1.0 Capsule (Hard gelatine; 78 mg) Preparation The ingredients are mixed in analogous mannerto that disclosed in Example 1, except that constituent d) is replaced by an equivalent amount of cetyl palmitate, the silicon dioxide c) is omitted and the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose d) is mixed with magnesium stearate.

In Vitro Release In in vitro experiments (USP XXI, pages 1243-1244, Apparatus 1, 1000 ml 0.1 n HCI, 100 rotations per min.) the following release results were obtained: Release of Release of co-dergocrine co-dergocrine Time Time (hours) Ex. 2 Ex. 3 (hours) Ex. 4 Ex. 5 1 15% 16% 1 19% 20% 3 32 37 2 32 37 5 50 52 4 48 49 7 66 64 7 67 73 24 99 86 24 100 101 EXAMPLE 6: Composition of Each Capsule Ingredient mg a) Dihydroergotamine (in mesylateform) 10.0 b) Lactose (200 mesh) 88.0 c) Silicon dioxide 1.0 d) Glycerol ditripalmitostearate 10.0 e) Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 4000 cps 90.0 f) Magnesium stearate 1.0 Capsule (Hard gelatine) 62.0 Preparation (Charge of 6000 Capsules) Ingredients a), b) and c) are sieved and mixed.Ingredient d) is melted by heating to 560C (m.p. 54 C) and is added to the mixture which is heated to 55"C. The mass is stirred for 2 minutes or until it is a homogenous mixture and cooled overnight. The cooled mass is broken up and sieved (through 800 micron openings).

Ingredients e) and f) are sieved (through 500 micron openings) and mixed in over 10 minutes. The mixture is then encapsulated.

In Vitro Release (Experimental Conditions: See EXAMPLE 2) Time Release of (hours) Dihydroergotamine (%) 1 9 2 17 4 29 6 41 24 96 EXAMPLE 7: Composition of Each Capsule Ingredient mg a) Dihydroergotamine in mesylate form 10.0 b) Lactose (200 mesh) 107.0 c) Cetyl palmitate 10.0 d) Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (15000 cps) 70.0 e) Silicon dioxide 1.0 f) Magnesium stearate 2.0 Capsule (Hard gelatine) 62.0 Preparation The ingredients are mixed in analogous manner to that disclosed in Example 6, exceptthat constituent d) is replaced by an equivalent amount of cetyl palmitate.

In Vitro Release (Experimental Conditions: See EXAMPLE 2) Time Release of (hours) Dihydroergotamine (%) 1 24 2 41 4 65 6 80 8 100 EXAMPLE 8 to 10: Composition of Each Capsule Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 Ingredient mg mg mg a) Dihydroergotamine in mesylate form 7.5 7.5 7.5 b) Tartaric acid 0.18 0.2 0.18 c) Lactose 81.32 144.3 81.32 d) Cetyi palmitate 8.0 5.0 8.0 e) Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (4000 cps) 80.0 40.0 80.0 The ingredients are mixed in analogous manner to that disclosed in Example 6: Constituents a), b) and c) are occluded in constituent d), the solidified mixture is granulated and is mixed with constituent e).

In Vitro Release (Experimental Conditions: See EXAMPLE 2) Release of dihydroergotamine Time (hours) Ex. 8 Ex. 9 Ex. 10 1 10% 14% 10% 2 19 26 22 4 33 49 41 6 46 67 56 24 96 99 101 Comparative Clinical Test Objective: To study in healthy volunteers the bioavailability of co-dergocrine in an oral controlled release capsule A according to Example 2 in comparison to co-dergocrine in a conventional tablet B.

Conventional Composition in Tablet Form Ingredient mg 1. Co-dergocrine in mesylateform 1.0 2. Stearicacid 2.0 3. Talc 4.0 4. Polyvinylpyrrolidone 4.0 5. Starch 8.0 6. Lactose 141.0 The ingredients 1 to 6 were mixed together, granulated with a mixture of alcohol and water, dried and compressed to a tablet.

One dosage of two 4.5 mg co-dergocrine mesylate containing capsules A (=9 mg) was compared with one dosage of 4 conventional tablets B containing 1 mg co-dergocrine mesylate (=4 mg). The lower dose for the tablet was chosen to avoid expected side effects due to the high peak levels of the conventional non-controlled release tablets.

The study design was an open label, 2 period design with each subject randomly assigned to one of two treatment sequences, followed by a third treatment period in which all subjects received the identical third treatment. 10 healthy male volunteers received on a fasted stomach both treatments in the first hour periods, followed by one dosage of retard capsules Awith food in period three.

Blood samples were obtained from the 10 volunteers by an indwelling cannula, at specific time points up to 24 hours after administration of the capsules.

The co-dergocrine concentrations, measured after the administration of capsules A and tablet B, were plotted graphically as shown in accompanying in figure 1 as corresponding mean curves A.1 (without food), A.2 (with food) and B (withoutfood) in picograms ml, time T in hours).

From the measured co-dergocrine concentrations, the following parameters were obtained (as arithmetic means).

Retard Caps. A Retard Caps. A Oral Tablet B With Food Without Food Without Food AUC (Area under the curve, 0-24 hours) 2066 2066 2242* Peak (in picogram/ml) 172 162 511* Time (in hours) 5.9 3.9 0.9 * Extrapolated from 4 mg to 9 mg This is justified since co-dergocrine mesylate shows linear dose proportionalityforthe AUC in the 0--9 mg dose range.

The retard capsule A showed an AUC, similar two that of the conventional tablet B (corrected for the dose) when given on an empty stomach or with a meal. Compared to the tablet B the retard capsule A showed a statistically significant lower peak level and a delayed time to peak (from less than 1 hour to 3.9 h on a fasted stomach or 5.9 h when given with a meal). In general, however, the profile of compound A when given on a fasted stomach was similar to that when given after a meal, except for the delay in the absorption of drug with a full stomach (presumably due to a delay in stomach emptying).

The retard capsule A, given on a fasted stomach or with a meal, provides sustained release of drug without dose dumping and, which is especially noteworthy, without significant loss of bioavailability, compared to the oral tablet reference Standard B.

Side effects such as headache and gastrointestinal upset were transitory and were mild to moderate in severity.

Single dose of retard capsules A, administered as 2x4.5 mg retard capsules A are safe and well tolerated.

EXAMPLE 11: The co-dergocrine and dihydroergotamine in the above examples may be replaced by an equivalent amount of epicryptine or 9'-thia-9,1 0-dihydroergotamine.

Claims (26)

1. A controlled release formulation for oral administration comprising: - a 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid as a drug - a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic swelling substance - a pharmaceutically acceptable inert fatty material.

2. A formulation according to claim 1, wherein the drug is a peptide alkaloid.

3. Aformulation according to claim 2, wherein the peptide alkaloid is co-dergocrine, dihydroergotamine, epicryptine or 9'-thia-9,1 0-dihydroergotamine.

4. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the swelling substance is a cellulose hydrocolloid.

5. A formulation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the swelling substance is hydroxypropylmethylcel lulose.

6. A formulation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty material is a hydrophobic material with a melting point between 30 and 90"C.

7. A formulation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty material is fatty acid ester.

8. A formulation according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fatty material is a cetyl palmitate.

9. Aformulation according to any one ofthe preceding claims containing 1 to 15 mg of ergot alkaloid per unit dosage form.

10. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims containing of from 2 to 10 mg of co-dergocrine.

11. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims containing of from 4to 15 mg of dihydroergotamine.

12. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, wherein the weight ratio of co-dergocrine to the swelling substance is from 1:10 to 1:50.

13. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9 and 11, wherein the weight ratio of dihydroergotamine to the swelling substance is from 1:4 to 1:20.

14. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10 and 12, wherein the weight ratio of co-dergocrine to the fatty material is from 1:1 to 1:10.

15. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, 11 and 13, wherein the weight ratio of dihydroergotamine to the fatty material is from 1:0.5 to 1 :2.

16. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose as a swelling agent and cetyl palmitate as a fatty material.

17. Aformulation according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the Examples.

18. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims, containing the 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid in a fatty material matrix granulate, the granulate particles being in contact with a hydrophilic swelling substance.

19. A method for treating cerebral insufficiency and disorders, hypertension or migraine, which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a formulation according to any one of the preceding claims and containing co-dergocrine to a subject in need of such treatment.

20. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims related to co-dergocrine, for use in the treatment or prevention according to the method of claim 19, in unit dosage form containing 2 to 10 mg of co-dergocrine.

21. A method for treating hypotension, orthostatic circulation disturbances or migraine which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a formulation according to any one of the preceding claims and containing dihydergotamine to a subject in need of such treatment.

22. Aformulation according to any one of the preceding claims related to dihydergotamine, for use in the treatment or prevention according to the method of claim 21, in unit dosage form, containing 4 to 15 mg of dihydergotamine.

23. A method for the preparation of a controlled release formulation for oral administration, which comprises mixing a 9,10-dihydro ergot alkaloid drug, a hydrophilic swelling substance and a fatty material.

24. A method according to claim 13, which comprises mixing the drug with the molten fatty material, solidifying and granulating the mixture and mixing the granulate particles with the porous swelling substance.

25. An oral pharmaceutical composition containing epicryptine characterised in that it is for once a day administration.

26. An oral pharmaceutical composition containing 9'-thia-9,10-dihydroergotamine characterised in that it is for once a day administration.