as used herein , the term mast cell mediated diseases includes urticaria , atopic dermatitis , psoriasis , pruritus , asthma , rhinitis , mastocytosis , conjunctivitis , and keratoconjunctivitis . as used herein , the term mast cell mediated diseases includes also food allergies . as used herein , the term urticaria includes allergic urticaria and non - allergic urticaria . as used herein , the term psoriasis includes psoriasis vulgaris , plaque psoriasis , flexural psoriasis , inverse psoriasis , guttate psoriasis , pustular psoriasis , nail psoriasis , erythrodermic psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis . as used herein , the term asthma includes asthma bronchiale , allergic and non - allergic asthma . as used herein , the term rhinitis includes allergic rhinitis ( e . g seasonal , perennial , and occupational rhinitis ) and non allergic rhinitis ( e . g . eosinophils , autonomic , hormonal , drug - induced , atrophic , and gustatory rhinitis ) and infective rhinitis . as used herein , the term mastocytosis includes cutaneous mastocytosis and systemic mastocytosis . as used herein , the term food allergy includes an immune response to a food protein such as a dairy allergy , an egg allergy , a peanut allergy , a tree nut allergy , a seafood allergy , a shellfish allergy , a soy allergy , and a wheat allergy or a combination thereof . as used herein , the terms mecamylamine , kynurenic acid , d - tubocurarine , hexamethonium , atropine , ipratropium , oxitropium , tiotropium , diphenhydramine , loratadine , desloratadine , meclizine , quetiapine , fexofenadine , pheniramine , cetirizine , promethazine , cimetidine , famotidine , ranitidine , nizatidine , a - 349 , 821 , abt - 239 , ciproxifan , clobenpropit , thioperamide , jnj 7777120 , cromoglicate , nedocromil , prednisone , cortisone , hydrocortisone , ciclesonide , beclomethasone , budesonide , flunisolide , fluticasone , mometasone , triamcinolone , montelukast , zafirlukast , pranlukast , zileuton , methylxanthines , theophylline , aminophylline , omalizumab , methotrexate , and ketotifen include optical isomers , diastereomers , enantiomers , hydrates , pharmaceutically acceptable salts , and mixtures thereof , respectively . as used herein , the term “ subject ” encompasses mammals including animals and humans . the term 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative is used herein to describe a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane or a compound derived from 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane , e . g ., pharmaceutically acceptable salts of 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexanes . the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention may be represented by the general formula ( i ): wherein r * is —( ch 2 ) n —( cr 6 r 7 ) m — nr 8 r 9 wherein r 1 through r 7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and c 1 - 6 alkyl , wherein r 8 and r 9 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and c 1 - 6 alkyl or together represent lower - alkylene —( ch 2 ) x — wherein x is 2 to 5 , inclusive , and optical isomers , enantiomers , hydrates , and pharmaceutically - acceptable salts thereof . non - limiting examples of the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexanes used according to the present invention include : 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 ( trans ), 3 ( trans ), 5 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 ( cis ), 3 ( cis ), 5 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane ( neramexane ), 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethyl - 3 - ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - 3 , 3 - diethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - cis - 3 - ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino -( 1s , 5s ) cis - 3 - ethyl - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - trans - 3 - ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino -( 1r , 5s ) trans - 3 - ethyl - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 - ethyl - 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 - propyl - 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexane , n - methyl - 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane , n - ethyl - 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethyl - cyclohexane , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexylmethylamine , 1 - amino - 1 - propyl - 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexane , 1 amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 ( trans )- tetramethylcyclohexane ( axial amino group ), 3 - propyl - 1 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexylamine semihydrate , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethyl - 3 - ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 - dimethyl - 3 - propylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 ( trans ), 5 ( trans )- trimethyl - 3 ( cis )- propylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 - dimethyl - 3 - ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethylcyclohexane , cis - 3 - ethyl - 1 ( trans )- 3 ( trans )- 5 - trimethylcyclohexamine , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 ( trans )- dimethylcyclohexane , 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethyl - 5 , 5 - dipropylcyclohexylamine , 1 - amino - 1 - methyl - 3 ( trans )- propylcyclohexane , 1 - methyl - 3 ( cis )- propylcyclohexylamine , 1 - amino - 1 - methyl - 3 ( trans )- ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethyl - 5 ( cis )- ethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethyl - 5 ( trans )- ethylcyclohexane , cis - 3 - propyl - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexylamine , trans - 3 - propyl - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexylamine , n - ethyl - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexylamine , n - methyl - 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 - methylcyclohexane , n , n - dimethyl - 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane , 2 -( 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexyl ) ethylamine , 2 - methyl - 1 -( 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexyl ) propyl - 2 - amine , 2 -( 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexyl - l )- ethylamine semihydrate , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexyl )- pyrrolidine , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 ( trans ), 5 ( trans )- trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 ( cis ), 5 ( cis )- trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino -( 1r , 5s ) trans - 5 - ethyl - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino -( 1s , 5s ) cis - 5 - ethyl - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - 3 ( cis )- isopropyl - cyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - 3 ( trans )- isopropyl - cyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 - methyl - 3 ( cis )- ethyl - cyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 - methyl - 3 ( cis )- methyl - cyclohexane , 1 - amino - 5 , 5 - diethyl - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethyl - cyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - 3 , 3 - diethylcyclohexane , 1 - amino - 1 - ethyl - 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexane , n - ethyl - 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane , n -( 1 , 3 , 5 - trimethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -[ 1 , 3 ( trans ), 5 ( trans )- trimethylcyclohexyl ] pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -[ 1 , 3 ( cis ), 5 ( cis )- trimethylcyclohexyl ] pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethyl - 3 - ethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 5 , 5 - trimethyl - 3 , 3 - diethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethyl - cis - 5 - ethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -[( 1s , 5s ) cis - 5 - ethyl - 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethylcyclohexyl ] pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 - trimethyl - trans - 5 - ethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -[( 1r , 5s ) trans - 5 - ethyl , 3 , 3 - trimethylcyclohexyl ] pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 - ethyl - 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 - propyl - 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - tetramethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine or piperidine , n -( 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexyl ) pyrrolidine , and optical isomers , diastereomers , enantiomers , hydrates , their pharmaceutically acceptable salts , and mixtures thereof . 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives ( e . g ., neramexane , 1 - amino - 1 , 3 , 3 , 5 , 5 - pentamethylcyclohexane ) are disclosed in u . s . pat . nos . 6 , 034 , 134 and 6 , 071 , 966 . 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be used according to the invention in the form of any of pharmaceutically acceptable salts , solvates , isomers , conjugates , and prodrugs , any references to 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives ( e . g ., neramexane ) in this description should be understood as also referring to such salts , solvates , isomers , conjugates , and prodrugs . pharmaceutically acceptable salts include , but are not limited to , acid addition salts , such as those made with hydrochloric , methylsulfonic , hydrobromic , hydroiodic , perchloric , sulfuric , nitric , phosphoric , acetic , propionic , glycolic , lactic , pyruvic , malonic , succinic , fumaric , tartaric , citric , benzoic , carbonic , cinnamic , mandelic , methanesulfonic , ethanesulfonic , hydroxyethanesulfonic , benezenesulfonic , p - toluene sulfonic , cyclohexanesulfamic , salicylic , p - aminosalicylic , 2 - phenoxybenzoic , and 2 - acetoxybenzoic acid . all of these salts ( or other similar salts ) may be prepared by conventional means . the nature of the salt is not critical , provided that it is non - toxic and does not substantially interfere with the desired pharmacological activity . the term “ analog ” or “ derivative ” is used herein in the conventional pharmaceutical sense , to refer to a molecule that structurally resembles a reference molecule ( such as neramexane ), but has been modified in a targeted and controlled manner to replace one or more specific substituents of the reference molecule with an alternate substituent , thereby generating a molecule which is structurally similar to the reference molecule . synthesis and screening of analogs ( e . g ., using structural and / or biochemical analysis ), to identify slightly modified versions of a known compound which may have improved or biased traits ( such as higher potency and / or selectivity at a specific targeted receptor type , greater ability to penetrate mammalian barriers , such as cell membranes , fewer side effects , etc .) is a drug design approach that is well known in pharmaceutical chemistry . the term “ treat ” is used herein to mean to relieve or alleviate at least one symptom of a disease in a subject . within the meaning of the present invention , the term “ treat ” also denotes to arrest , delay the onset ( i . e ., the period prior to clinical manifestation of a disease ) and / or reduce the risk of developing or worsening a disease . the term “ therapeutically effective ” applied to dose or amount refers to that quantity of a compound or pharmaceutical composition that is sufficient to result in a desired activity upon administration to a mammal in need thereof . the phrase “ pharmaceutically acceptable ”, as used in connection with compositions of the invention , refers to molecular entities and other ingredients of such compositions that are physiologically tolerable and do not typically produce untoward reactions when administered to a mammal ( e . g ., human ). the term “ pharmaceutically acceptable ” may also mean approved by a regulatory agency of the federal or a state government or listed in the u . s . pharmacopeia or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in mammals , and more particularly in humans . the term “ carrier ” applied to pharmaceutical compositions of the invention refers to a diluent , excipient , or vehicle with which an active compound ( e . g ., neramexane ) is administered . such pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids , such as water , saline solutions , aqueous dextrose solutions , aqueous glycerol solutions , and oils , including those of petroleum , animal , vegetable or synthetic origin , such as peanut oil , soybean oil , mineral oil , sesame oil and the like . suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described e . g . in “ remington &# 39 ; s pharmaceutical sciences ” by a . r . gennaro , 20 th edition . the term “ about ” or “ approximately ” usually means within 20 %, alternatively within 10 %, including within 5 % of a given value or range . alternatively , especially in biological systems , the term “ about ” means within about a log ( i . e ., an order of magnitude ), including within a factor of two of a given value . in conjunction with the methods of the present invention , also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ). the compositions of the invention may further comprise a carrier or excipient ( all pharmaceutically acceptable ). the compositions may be formulated for once - a - day administration , twice - a - day administration , or three times a day administration . the active ingredient ( e . g ., neramexane , such as neramexane mesylate ) or the composition of the present invention may be used for the treatment of at least one of the mentioned disorders , wherein the treatment is adapted to or appropriately prepared for a specific administration as disclosed herein ( e . g ., to once - a - day , twice - a - day , or three times a day administration ). for this purpose the package leaflet and / or the patient information contains corresponding information . the active ingredient ( e . g ., neramexane , such as neramexane mesylate ) or the composition of the present invention may be used for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of at least one of the mentioned disorders , wherein the medicament is adapted to or appropriately prepared for a specific administration as disclosed herein ( e . g ., to once - a - day , twice - a - day , or three times a day administration ). for this purpose the package leaflet and / or the patient information contains corresponding information . according to the present invention , the dosage form of the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be a solid , semisolid , or liquid formulation according to the following . the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be administered orally , topically , parenterally , or mucosally ( e . g ., buccally , by inhalation , or rectally ) in dosage unit formulations containing conventional non - toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers . in another embodiment for administration to pediatric subjects , the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative may be formulated as a flavored liquid ( e . g ., peppermint flavor ). the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention may be administered orally in the form of a capsule , a tablet , or the like , or as a liquid formulation or topically as a semi - solid such as an ointment , cream , gel , or hydrogel ( see remington &# 39 ; s pharmaceutical sciences , 20 th edition , by a . r . gennaro ). for oral administration in the form of a tablet or capsule , the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be combined with non - toxic , pharmaceutically acceptable excipients such as binding agents ( e . g ., pregelatinized maize starch , polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose ); fillers ( e . g ., lactose , sucrose , glucose , mannitol , sorbitol and other reducing and non - reducing sugars , microcrystalline cellulose , calcium sulfate , or calcium hydrogen phosphate ); lubricants ( e . g ., magnesium stearate , talc , or silica , steric acid , sodium stearyl fumarate , glyceryl behenate , calcium stearate , and the like ); disintegrants ( e . g ., potato starch or sodium starch glycolate ); or wetting agents ( e . g ., sodium lauryl sulphate ), coloring and flavoring agents , gelatin , sweeteners , natural and synthetic gums ( such as acacia , tragacanth or alginates ), buffer salts , carboxymethylcellulose , polyethyleneglycol , waxes , and the like . the tablets may be coated with a concentrated sugar solution which may contain e . g ., gum arabic , gelatine , talcum , titanium dioxide , and the like . alternatively , the tablets can be coated with a polymer that dissolves in a readily volatile organic solvent or mixture of organic solvents . in specific embodiments , neramexane is formulated in immediate - release ( ir ) or modified - release ( mr ) dosage forms . immediate release solid dosage forms permit the release of most or all of the active ingredient over a short period of time , such as 60 minutes or less , and make rapid absorption of the drug possible ( immediate release formulations of 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexanes such as neramexane are disclosed in us published application nos . 2006 / 0002999 and 2006 / 0198884 , the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference ). modified release solid oral dosage forms permit the sustained release of the active ingredient over an extended period of time in an effort to maintain therapeutically effective plasma levels over similarly extended time intervals and / or to modify other pharmacokinetic properties of the active ingredient ( modified release formulations of neramexane are disclosed in us published application no . 2007 / 0141148 , the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference ). for the formulation of soft gelatin capsules , the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be admixed with e . g ., a vegetable oil or poly - ethylene glycol . hard gelatin capsules may contain granules of the active substances using either the above mentioned excipients for tablets e . g ., lactose , saccharose , sorbitol , mannitol , starches ( e . g ., potato starch , corn starch or amylopectin ), cellulose derivatives or gelatine . also liquids or semisolids of the drug can be filled into hard gelatine capsules . the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention ( e . g ., neramexane ) can also be introduced in microspheres or microcapsules , e . g ., fabricated from polyglycolic acid / lactic acid ( pgla ) ( see , e . g ., u . s . pat . nos . 5 , 814 , 344 ; 5 , 100 , 669 and 4 , 849 , 222 ; pct publications no . wo 95 / 11010 and wo 93 / 07861 ). biocompatible polymers may be used in achieving controlled release of a drug , include for example , polylactic acid , polyglycolic acid , copolymers of polylactic and polyglycolic acid , polyepsilon caprolactone , polyhydroxybutyric acid , polyorthoesters , polyacetals , polyhydropyrans , polycyanoacrylates , and cross - linked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels . formulation of the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention in a semi - solid or liquid form may also be used . the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) may constitute between 0 . 1 and 99 % by weight of the formulation , more specifically between 0 . 5 and 20 % by weight for formulations intended for injection and between 0 . 2 and 50 % by weight for formulations suitable for oral administration . formulations of the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention in a semi - solid or liquid form suitable for topical administration may also be used . such formulations include gels , creams , ointments , hydrogels , pastes , emulsions , sprays , solutions , lotions , etc . the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) may constitute between 0 . 1 and 99 % by weight of the formulation , more specifically between 0 . 5 % and 50 % by weight of the formulation or between 1 % and 25 % by weight of the formulation or between 2 % and 20 % by weight of the formulation . in one embodiment of the invention , the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) is administered in a modified release formulation . modified release dosage forms provide a means for improving patient compliance and for ensuring effective and safe therapy by reducing the incidence of adverse drug reactions . compared to immediate release dosage forms , modified release dosage forms can be used to prolong pharmacologic action after administration , and to reduce variability in the plasma concentration of a drug throughout the dosage interval , thereby eliminating or reducing sharp peaks . a modified release form dosage form may comprise a core either coated with or containing a drug . the core is then coated with a release modifying polymer within which the drug is dispersed . the release modifying polymer disintegrates gradually , releasing the drug over time . thus , the outer - most layer of the composition effectively slows down and thereby regulates the diffusion of the drug across the coating layer when the composition is exposed to an aqueous environment , i . e . the gastrointestinal tract . the net rate of diffusion of the drug is mainly dependent on the ability of the gastric fluid to penetrate the coating layer or matrix and on the solubility of the drug itself . in another embodiment of the invention , the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) is formulated in an oral , liquid formulation . liquid preparations for oral administration can take the form of , for example , solutions , syrups , emulsions or suspensions , or they can be presented as a dry product for reconstitution with water or other suitable vehicle before use . preparations for oral administration can be suitably formulated to give controlled or postponed release of the active compound . oral liquid formulations of 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexanes , such as neramexane , are described in pct international application no . pct / us2004 / 037026 , the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference . for oral administration in liquid form , 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be combined with non - toxic , pharmaceutically acceptable inert carriers ( e . g ., ethanol , glycerol , water ), suspending agents ( e . g ., sorbitol syrup , cellulose derivatives or hydrogenated edible fats ), emulsifying agents ( e . g ., lecithin or acacia ), non - aqueous vehicles ( e . g ., almond oil , oily esters , ethyl alcohol or fractionated vegetable oils ), preservatives ( e . g ., methyl or propyl - p - hydroxybenzoates or sorbic acid ), and the like . stabilizing agents such as antioxidants ( e . g . bha , bht , propyl gallate , sodium ascorbate , citric acid ) can also be added to stabilize the dosage forms . for example , solutions may contain from about 0 . 2 % to about 20 % by weight of neramexane , with the balance being sugar and mixture of ethanol , water , glycerol and propylene glycol . optionally , such liquid formulations may contain coloring agents , flavoring agents , sweetening agents and thickening agents , such as carboxymethyl - cellulose , or other excipients . in another embodiment , a therapeutically effective amount of a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) is administered in an oral solution containing a preservative , a sweetener , a solubilizer , and a solvent . the oral solution may include one or more buffers , flavorings , or additional excipients . in a further embodiment , a peppermint or other flavoring is added to the neramexane derivative oral liquid formulation . for administration by inhalation , 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives ( e . g ., neramexane ) of the present invention may be conveniently delivered in the form of an aerosol spray presentation from pressurized packs or a nebulizer , with the use of a suitable propellant , e . g ., dichlorodifluoromethane , trichlorofluoromethane , dichlorotetrafluoroethane , carbon dioxide , or other suitable gas . in the case of a pressurized aerosol , the dosage unit can be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount . capsules and cartridges of , e . g ., gelatin for use in an inhaler or insufflator can be formulated containing a powder mix of the compound and a suitable powder base such as lactose or starch . solutions for parenteral applications by injection may be prepared in an aqueous solution of a water - soluble pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the active substances , for example in a concentration of from about 0 . 5 % to about 10 % by weight . these solutions may also contain stabilizing agents and / or buffering agents and may conveniently be provided in various dosage unit ampoules . the formulations of the invention may be delivered parenterally , i . e ., by intravenous ( i . v . ), intracerebroventricular ( i . c . v . ), subcutaneous ( s . c . ), intraperitoneal ( i . p . ), intramuscular ( i . m . ), subdermal ( s . d . ), or intradermal ( i . d .) administration , by direct injection , via , for example , bolus injection or continuous infusion . formulations for injection can be presented in unit dosage form , e . g ., in ampoules or in multi - dose containers , with an added preservative . alternatively , the active ingredient may be in powder form for reconstitution with a suitable vehicle , e . g ., sterile pyrogen - free water , before use . the invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers containing a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative ( e . g ., neramexane ) and , optionally , more of the ingredients of the formulation . in a specific embodiment , neramexane is provided as an oral solution ( 2 mg / ml ) for administration with the use of a 2 teaspoon capacity syringe ( dosage korc ®). each oral syringe has hatch marks for measurement , with lines on the right side of the syringe ( tip down ) representing tsp units , and those on the left representing ml units . the optimal therapeutically effective amount may be determined experimentally , taking into consideration the exact mode of administration , from in which the drug is administered , the indication toward which the administration is directed , the subject involved ( e . g ., body weight , health , age , sex , etc . ), and the preference and experience of the physician or veterinarian in charge . dosage units for rectal application may be solutions or suspensions or may be prepared in the form of suppositories or retention enemas comprising neramexane in a mixture with a neutral fatty base , or gelatin rectal capsules comprising the active substances in admixture with vegetable oil or paraffin oil . toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of the compositions of the invention may be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in experimental animals , e . g ., by determining the ld 50 ( the dose lethal to 50 % of the population ) and the ed 50 ( the dose therapeutically effective in 50 % of the population ). the dose ratio between therapeutic and toxic effects is the therapeutic index and it may be expressed as the ratio ld 50 / ed 50 . compositions that exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred . suitable daily doses of the active compounds of the invention in therapeutic treatment of humans are about 0 . 01 - 10 mg / kg bodyweight on peroral administration and 0 . 001 - 10 mg / kg bodyweight on parenteral administration . for example , for adults , suitable daily doses of neramexane ( e . g . neramexane mesylate ) are within the range from about 5 mg to about 150 mg per day , such as from about 5 mg to about 120 mg , from about 5 mg to about 100 mg , or from about 5 mg to about 75 mg , or from about 5 mg to about 50 mg , such as 25 mg or 37 . 5 mg or 50 mg , per day . for example the daily dose may be body weight - adjusted such as 50 mg / day up to 90 kg body weight or 75 mg / day for patients with a body weight of ≧ 90 kg . an equimolar amount of another pharmaceutically acceptable salt , a solvate , an isomer , a conjugate , a prodrug or a derivative thereof , such as neramexane hydrochloride , is also suitable . for pediatric subjects aged 4 - 14 , neramexane ( e . g . neramexane mesylate ) may be administered as an oral , liquid dosage form , at about 0 . 5 mg / day , up to a maximum dose of 10 mg / day . the daily doses indicated herein may be administered , for example , as one or two dosing units once , twice or three times per day . suitable doses per dosage unit may therefore be the daily dose divided ( for example , equally ) between the number of dosage units administered per day , and will thus typically be about equal to the daily dose or one half , one third , one quarter or one sixth thereof . dosages per dosage unit may thus be calculated from each daily dosage indicated herein . a daily dose of 5 mg , for example may be seen as providing a dose per dosage unit of , for example , about 5 mg , 2 . 5 mg , 1 . 67 mg , 1 . 25 mg and 0 . 83 mg , depending upon the dosing regimen chosen . correspondingly , a dosage of 150 mg per day corresponds to dosages per dosing unit of , for example , about 150 mg , 75 mg , 50 mg , 37 . 5 mg , and 25 mg for corresponding dosing regimens . treatment duration may be short - term , e . g ., several weeks ( for example 8 - 14 weeks ), or long - term until the attending physician deems further administration no longer is necessary . the 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivatives of the present invention ( e . g ., neramexane ) may be administered as a monotherapy , or in combination with another agent prescribed for the treatment of mast cell mediated diseases . the term “ combination ” applied to active ingredients is used herein to define a single pharmaceutical composition ( formulation ) comprising two active agents ( e . g ., a pharmaceutical composition comprising a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative , such as neramexane , and another agent prescribed for the treatment of mast cell mediated diseases , such as anticholinergic substances ( e . g . mecamylamine , kynurenic acid , d - tubocurarine , hexamethonium , atropine , ipratropium , oxitropium , and tiotropium ), antihistamines , ( e . g . diphenhydramine , loratadine , desloratadine , meclizine , quetiapine , fexofenadine , pheniramine , cetirizine , promethazine , cimetidine , famotidine , ranitidine , nizatidine , a - 349 , 821 , abt - 239 , ciproxifan , clobenpropit , thioperamide , jnj 7777120 , cromoglicate , nedocromil ), corticosteroids ( e . g . prednisone , cortisone , hydrocortisone ), glucocorticoids ( e . g . ciclesonide , beclomethasone , budesonide , flunisolide , fluticasone , mometasone , and triamcinolone ), leukotriene modifiers ( e . g . montelukast , zafirlukast , pranlukast , and zileuton ), methylxanthines ( e . g . theophylline and aminophylline ), omalizumab , methotrexate and ketotifen ) or two separate pharmaceutical compositions , each comprising an active agent ( e . g . a pharmaceutical composition comprising a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative , such as neramexane , and another pharmaceutical composition comprising another agent prescribed for the treatment of mast cell mediated diseases , such as anticholinergic substances ( e . g . mecamylamine , kynurenic acid , d - tubocurarine , hexamethonium , atropine , ipratropium , oxitropium , and tiotropium ), antihistamines , ( e . g . diphenhydramine , loratadine , desloratadine , meclizine , quetiapine , fexofenadine , pheniramine , cetirizine , promethazine , cimetidine , famotidine , ranitidine , nizatidine , a - 349 , 821 , abt - 239 , ciproxifan , clobenpropit , thioperamide , jnj 7777120 , cromoglicate , nedocromil ), corticosteroids ( e . g . prednisone , cortisone , hydrocortisone ), glucocorticoids ( e . g . ciclesonide , beclomethasone , budesonide , flunisolide , fluticasone , mometasone , and triamcinolone ), leukotriene modifiers ( e . g . montelukast , zafirlukast , pranlukast , and zileuton ), methylxanthines ( e . g . theophylline and aminophylline ), omalizumab , methotrexate and ketotifen ), to be administered conjointly . within the meaning of the present invention , the term “ conjoint administration ” is used to refer to administration of 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative , such as neramexane , and one or more additional active agents ( e . g . another agent prescribed for the treatment of mast cell mediated diseases such as anticholinergic substances ( e . g . mecamylamine , kynurenic acid , d - tubocurarine , hexamethonium , atropine , ipratropium , oxitropium , and tiotropium ), antihistamines , ( e . g . diphenhydramine , loratadine , desloratadine , meclizine , quetiapine , fexofenadine , pheniramine , cetirizine , promethazine , cimetidine , famotidine , ranitidine , nizatidine , a - 349 , 821 , abt - 239 , ciproxifan , clobenpropit , thioperamide , jnj 7777120 , cromoglicate , nedocromil ), corticosteroids ( e . g . prednisone , cortisone , hydrocortisone ), glucocorticoids ( e . g . ciclesonide , beclomethasone , budesonide , flunisolide , fluticasone , mometasone , and triamcinolone ), leukotriene modifiers ( e . g . montelukast , zafirlukast , pranlukast , and zileuton ), methylxanthines ( e . g . theophylline and aminophylline ), omalizumab , methotrexate and ketotifen ) simultaneously in one composition , or simultaneously in different compositions , or sequentially . for the sequential administration to be considered “ conjoint ”, however , 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative , such as neramexane , and the one or more additional agents must be administered separated by a time interval which still permits the resultant beneficial effect for treating mast cell mediated diseases in a mammal . with the aid of commonly used solvents , auxiliary agents and carriers , active ingredients may be processed into tablets , coated tablets , capsules , drip solutions , suppositories , injection and infusion preparations , gels , creams , ointments , and the like and can be therapeutically applied by the oral , rectal , parenteral , topical , and additional routes . tablets suitable for oral administration may be prepared by conventional tabletting techniques . the following example is given by way of illustration only and is not to be construed as limiting . the following tables provide the make - up of neramexane immediate release tablets in 12 . 5 , 25 . 0 , 37 . 5 , and 50 . 0 mg dosages , including active components , coating agents , and other excipients . the human mast cell line hmc - 1 is obtained from j . h . butterfield ( minnesota , usa ) and cultured under standard conditions in rpmi medium 1640 ( gibco , karlsruhe , germany ) at 37 ° c . for functional assays , the calcium concentration of the medium is adjusted to 1 mm . the mast cell degranulation is monitored by determination of histamine concentration in the culture medium using a sandwich - elisa from ibl ( hamburg , germany ). histamine concentration is determined in untreated cells , medium without cells , hmc - 1 cells treated with calcimycin , ( a calcium ionophore , used as positive control ). additional controls to check reagibilty of the cells are lps ( lipopolysaccharide ) and pma ( phorbol 12 - myristate 13 - acetate ). histamine concentration is determined 10 minutes after addition of the respective substances . nicotine and choline are used as stimulus for nachr , muscarine as stimulus for machr , and a combination of acetylcholine and eserine ( an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor ) is used as pancholinergic stimulus . neramexane is tested at concentrations ranging from 10e - 6m to 10e - 16m and is added to the culture medium 5 minutes prior to the respective cholinergic stimulus . all experiments are performed twice in quadruplicate . statistical analysis is performed using the wilcoxon sum - of - ranks test ( available on www . statpages . net ). in order to determine the sensitivity of mast cells towards cholinergic signals , the hmc - 1 cell line cultured under standard conditions with either low or high calcium concentrations is used . using low calcium , the hmc - 1 cells remain unresponsive to ach , nicotine and calcimycine . elevation of the calcium concentration to 1 mm renders the hmc - 1 cells highly sensitive towards cholinergic stimulation . ach , choline and nicotine dose - dependently produce mast cell degranulation evidenced by histamine concentration in the culture supernatant . nanomolar concentrations of ach and nicotine are sufficient to induce complete degranulation . the specificity of the obtained effect may be demonstrated by preincubation of the hmc - 1 cells with anticholinergic substances . neramexane - mesylate inhibits the observed effects in equimolar concentrations and , dose - dependently , even in lower concentrations than the respective agonist . no histamine liberation is produced by addition of muscarine to the culture medium . these results are shown in fig1 . neramexane demonstrates a dose - dependent inhibitory effect on mast cell degranulation . these results indicate that neramexane may be useful in treating mast cell mediated diseases such as urticaria , atopic dermatitis , psoriasis , pruritus , asthma , rhinitis , mastocytosis , conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis . these results further indicate that neramexane may be useful in treating mast cell mediated diseases such food allergy . the present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein . indeed , various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description . such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims . all patents , applications , publications , test methods , literature , and other materials cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference .
the present invention relates to the treatment of an individual afflicted with mast cell mediated diseases comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of a 1 - amino - alkylcyclohexane derivative .