the current invention concerns the discovery that a select group of 2 - phenyl - 3 - aroylbenzothiophenes ( benzothiophenes ), those of formula i , are useful for treating peri - menopausal syndrome . the methods of treatment provided by this invention are practiced by administering to a human in need , a dose of a compound of formula i or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof , that is effective to treat peri - menopausal syndrome . treating is defined to include ameliorating one or more of the symptoms of peri - menopausal syndrome , and / or bringing a woman into a stable post - menopausal state in a reduced period of time . generally , the compound is formulated with common excipients , diluents or carriers , and compressed into tablets , or formulated as elixirs or solutions for convenient oral administration , or administered by the intramuscular or intravenous routes . the compounds can be administered transdermally , and may be formulated as sustained release dosage forms and the like . the compounds used in the methods of the current invention can be made according to established procedures , such as those detailed in u . s . pat . nos . 4 , 133 , 814 , 4 , 418 , 068 , and 4 , 380 , 635 all of which are incorporated by reference herein . in general , the process starts with a benzo [ b ] thiophene having a 6 - hydroxyl group and a 2 ( 4 - hydroxyphenyl ) group . the starting compound is protected , alkylated , and deprotected to form the formula i compounds . examples of the preparation of such compounds are provided in the u . s . patents discussed above . substituted phenyl includes phenyl substituted once or twice with c 1 - c 6 alkyl , c 1 - c 4 alkoxy , hydroxy , nitro , chloro , fluoro , or tri ( chloro or fluoro ) methyl . the compounds used in the methods of this invention form pharmaceutically acceptable acid and base addition salts with a wide variety of organic and inorganic acids and bases and include the physiologically acceptable salts which are often used in pharmaceutical chemistry . such salts are also part of this invention . typical inorganic acids used to form such salts include hydrochloric , hydrobromic , hydroiodic , nitric , sulfuric , phosphoric , hypophosphoric and the like . salts derived from organic acids , such as aliphatic mono and dicarboxylic acids , phenyl substituted alkanoic acids , hydroxyalkanoic and hydroxyalkandioic acids , aromatic acids , aliphatic and aromatic sulfonic acids , may also be used . such pharmaceutically acceptable salts thus include acetate , phenylacetate , trifluoroacetate , acrylate , ascorbate , benzoate , chlorobenzoate , dinitrobenzoate , hydroxybenzoate , methoxybenzoate , methylbenzoate , o - acetoxybenzoate , naphthalene - 2 - benzoate , bromide , isobutyrate , phenylbutyrate , β - hydroxybutyrate , butyne - 1 , 4 - dioate , hexyne - 1 , 4 - dioate , caprate , caprylate , chloride , cinnamate , citrate formate , fumarate , glycollate , heptanoate , hippurate , lactate , malate , maleate , hydroxymaleate , malonate , mandelate , mesylate , nicotinate , isonicotinate , nitrate , oxalate , phthalate , teraphthalate , phosphate , monohydrogenphosphate , dihydrogenphosphate , metaphosphate , pyrophosphate , propiolate , propionate , phenylpropionate , salicylate , sebacate , succinate , suberate , sulfate , bisulfate , pyrosulfate , sulfite , bisulfite , sulfonate , benzene - sulfonate , p - bromophenylsulfonate , chlorobenzenesulfonate , ethanesulfonate , 2 - hydroxyethanesulfonate , methanesulfonate , naphthalene - 1 - sulfonate , naphthalene - 2 - sulfonate , p - toluenesulfonate , xylenesulfonate , tartarate , and the like . a preferred salt is the hydrochloride salt . the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are typically formed by reacting a compound of formula i with an equimolar or excess amount of acid . the reactants are generally combined in a mutual solvent such as diethyl ether or benzene . the salt normally precipitates out of solution within about one hour to 10 days and can be isolated by filtration or the solvent can be stripped off by conventional means . bases commonly used for formation of salts include ammonium hydroxide and alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides , carbonates and bicarbonates , as well as aliphatic and primary , secondary and tertiary amines , aliphatic diamines and hydroxy alkylamines . bases especially useful in the preparation of addition salts include ammonium hydroxide , potassium carbonate , sodium bicarbonate , calcium hydroxide , methylamine , diethylamine , ethylene diamine , cyclohexylamine and ethanolamine . the pharmaceutically acceptable salts generally have enhanced solubility characteristics compared to the compound from which they are derived , and thus are often more amenable to formulation as liquids or emulsions . pharmaceutical formulations can be prepared by procedures known in the art . for example , the compounds can be formulated with common excipients , diluents , or carriers , and formed into tablets , capsules , suspensions , powders , and the like . examples of excipients , diluents , and carriers that are suitable for such formulations include the following : fillers and extenders such as starch , sugars , mannitol , and silicic derivatives ; binding agents such as carboxymethyl cellulose and other cellulose derivatives , alginates , gelatin , and polyvinyl pyrrolidone ; moisturizing agents such as glycerol ; disintegrating agents such as calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate ; agents for retarding dissolution such as paraffin ; resorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds ; surface active agents such as cetyl alcohol , glycerol monostearate ; adsorptive carriers such as kaolin and bentonite ; and lubricants such as talc , calcium and magnesium stearate , and solid polyethyl glycols . the compounds can also be formulated as elixirs or solutions for convenient oral administration or as solutions appropriate for parenteral administration , for instance by intramuscular , subcutaneous or intravenous routes . additionally , the compounds are well suited to formulation as sustained release dosage forms and the like . the formulations can be so constituted that they release the active ingredient only or preferably in a particular part of the intestinal tract , possibly over a period of time . the coatings , envelopes , and protective matrices may be made , for example , from polymeric substances or waxes . the particular dosage of a compound of formula i required to treat peri - menopausal syndrome , according to this invention will depend upon the severity of the condition , the route of administration , and related factors that will be decided by the attending physician . generally , accepted and effective daily doses will be from about 0 . 1 to about 1000 mg / day , and more typically from about 50 to about 600 mg / day . such dosages will be administered to a subject in need of treatment from once to about three times each day , or more often as needed to effectively treat peri - menopausal syndrome . it is usually preferred to administer a compound of formula i in the form of an acid addition salt , as is customary in the administration of pharmaceuticals bearing a basic group , such as the piperidino ring . it is also advantageous to administer such a compound by the oral route to an aging woman . for such purposes the following oral dosage forms are available . in the formulations which follow , &# 34 ; active ingredient &# 34 ; means a compound of formula i . ______________________________________formulation 1 : gelatin capsuleshard gelatin capsules are prepared using the following : ingredient quantity ( mg / capsule ) ______________________________________active ingredient 0 . 1 - 1000starch , nf 0 - 650starch flowable powder 0 - 650silicone fluid 350 centistokes 0 - 15______________________________________ the ingredients are blended , passed through a no . 45 mesh u . s . sieve , and filled into hard gelatin capsules . examples of specific capsule formulations of the compound of formula 1 wherein r 2 is piperidino , and r 1 and r 3 are hydrogen , ( raloxifene ), that have been made include those shown below : ______________________________________formulation 2 : raloxifene capsuleingredient quantity ( mg / capsule ) ______________________________________raloxifene 1starch , nf 112starch flowable powder 225 . 3silicone fluid 350 centistokes 1 . 7______________________________________ ______________________________________formulation 3 : raloxifene capsuleingredient quantity ( mg / capsule ) ______________________________________raloxifene 5starch , nf 108starch flowable powder 225 . 3silicone fluid 350 centistokes 1 . 7______________________________________ ______________________________________formulation 4 : raloxifene capsuleingredient quantity ( mg / capsule ) ______________________________________raloxifene 10starch , nf 103starch flowable powder 225 . 3silicone fluid 350 centistokes 1 . 7______________________________________ ______________________________________formulation 5 : raloxifene capsuleingredient quantity ( mg / capsule ) ______________________________________raloxifene 50starch , nf 150starch flowable powder 397silicone fluid 350 centistokes 3 . 0______________________________________ the specific formulations above may be changed in compliance with the reasonable variations provided . ______________________________________formulation 6 : tabletsingredient quantity ( mg / tablet ) ______________________________________active ingredient 0 . 1 - 1000cellulose , microcrystalline 0 - 650silicon dioxide , fumed 0 - 650stearate acid 0 - 15______________________________________ alternatively , tablets each containing 0 . 1 - 1000 mg of active ingredient are made up as follows : ______________________________________formulation 7 : tabletsingredient quantity ( mg / tablet ) ______________________________________active ingredient 0 . 1 - 1000starch 45cellulose , microcrystalline 35polyvinylpyrrolidone 4 ( as 10 % solution in water ) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 4 . 5magnesium stearate 0 . 5talc 1______________________________________ the active ingredient , starch , and cellulose are passed through a no . 45 mesh u . s . sieve and mixed thoroughly . the solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone is mixed with the resultant powders which are then passed through a no . 14 mesh u . s . sieve . the granules so produced are dried 50 °- 60 ° c . and passed through a no . 18 mesh u . s . sieve . the sodium carboxymethyl starch , magnesium stearate , and talc , previously passed through a no . 60 u . s . sieve , are then added to the granules which , after mixing , are compressed on a tablet machine to yield tablets . suspensions each containing 0 . 1 - 1000 mg of medicament per 5 ml dose are made as follows : ______________________________________formulation 8 : suspensionsingredient quantity ( mg / 5 ml ) ______________________________________active ingredient 0 . 1 - 1000 mgsodium carboxymethyl cellulose 50 mgsyrup 1 . 25 mgbenzoic acid solution 0 . 10 mlflavor q . v . color q . v . purified water to 5 ml______________________________________ the medicament is passed through a no . 45 mesh u . s . sieve and mixed with the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and syrup to form a smooth paste . the benzoic acid solution , flavor , and color are diluted with some of the water and added , with stirring . sufficient water is then added to produce the required volume . a group of 3 - 20 women between the age of 45 - 50 years of age are selected as a test group . the women exhibit at least one of the sequellae of impending menopause . a compound of the invention is given in the amount of 100 - 500 mg / day and the sequellae are closely monitored . the dosing of the compound of % he invention continues for a period of three ( 3 ) weeks . the same test as in test 1 is carried out , however , the administration period is for a time of three ( 3 ) months . this test is ran as test 1 , except the dosing period is for a period of six ( 6 ) months . activity , defined as either total cessation of one or more sequellae of the patient , or reduced severity or occurrence thereof , or a more rapid advancement to menopausal state , in any of the above assays indicates that the compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of peri - menopausal syndrome .
a method of treating peri - menopasual syndrome comprising administering to a human in need of treatment an effective amount of a compound having the formula ## str1 ## wherein r 1 and r 3 are independently hydrogen , -- ch 3 , ## str2 ## wherein ar is optionally substituted phenyl ; r 2 is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine and piperidino ; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of solvate thereof .