The disclosure provides a method of treating a patient having postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, menopausal depression, or delirium tremens comprising administering an effective amount of an injectable neurosteroid formulation to the patient. In certain embodiments the injectable neurosteroid formulation is an injectable ganaxolone formulation. Two types of injectable neurosteroid formulations may be used in the disclosed methods. The first such formulation is an injectable formulation containing ganaxolone and sulfobutyl ether -cyclodextrin in a 1:1 inclusion complex. The second such formulation is an injectable neurossteroid formulation comprising a neurosteroid, preferably ganaxolone, but which may be a neurosteroid selected from allopregnanolone, ganaxolone, alphaxalone, alphadolone, hydroxydione, minaxolone, pregnanolone, tetrahydrocorticosterone, and combinations of the foregoing; a surface stabilizer selected from hydroxyl ethyl starch, dextran, and povidone; and a surfactant.

Described herein are steroids of Formula (I): ##STR00001##
and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5a, R.sup.5b, R.sup.6, and Z are as defined herein. Such compounds are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of CNS-related conditions, for example, treatment of sleep disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, convulsive disorders, disorders of memory and/or cognition, movement disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, pain, traumatic brain injury, vascular diseases, substance abuse disorders and/or withdrawal syndromes, and tinnitus.

Described herein are neuroactive steroids of the Formula (I):

##STR00001##

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein , A, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are as defined herein. Such compounds are envisioned, in certain embodiments, to behave as GABA modulators. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention and methods of use, e.g., for treating a subject suffering from a disease or disorder described herein.

The present invention relates to new compounds of formula (1) wherein R is C(O)CH.sub.2OH or CH(OH)CH.sub.2OH; R.sub.1, is O or OH; R.sub.2 is H or OH; R.sub.3 is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl; R.sub.4 is H or C.sub.1C.sub.4alkyl. These compounds are obtained by a process using at least one bacterium belonging to the Actinobacteria class, preferably belonging to the Rhodococcus genus. Thanks to their antiinflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, the compounds of the invention can be advantageously used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and of diseases in need of a joined anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity.

##STR00001##

Potent soft corticosteroid pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and method for use as anti-inflammatory agents. Also, a method for softening fluticasone propionate and similar corticosteroids to arrive at potent but safer alternatives. The compound 5-fluoromethyl 17-dichloroacetoxy-6,9-difluoro-11-hydroxy-16a-methyl-3-oxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17-carbothioate, which is equally potent to but safer than fluticasone, is among those provided. Another compound of particular interest is 2-hydroxyethyl 17-dichloroacetoxy-6,9-difluoro-11-hydroxy-16-methyl-3-oxoandrosta-1,4-diene-17-carboxylate.

The disclosure provides a method of treating a patient having postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, menopausal depression, or delirium tremens comprising administering an effective amount of an injectable neurosteroid formulation to the patient. In certain embodiments the injectable neurosteroid formulation is an injectable ganaxolone formulation. Two types of injectable neurosteroid formulations may be used in the disclosed methods. The first such formulation is an injectable formulation containing ganaxolone and sulfobutyl ether -cyclodextrin in a 1:1 inclusion complex. The second such formulation is an injectable neurosteroid formulation comprising a neurosteroid, preferably ganaxolone, but which may be a neurosteroid selected from allopregnanolone, ganaxolone, alphaxalone, alphadolone, hydroxydione, minaxolone, pregnanolone, tetrahydrocorticosterone, and combinations of the foregoing; a surface stabilizer selected from hydroxyl ethyl starch, dextran, and povidone; and a surfactant.

The present invention contemplates novel neurosteroid derivative compounds, such as derivatives of ganaxolone and allopregnanolone, having improved solubility and bioavailability. The novel neurosteroid derivative compounds are characterized by the following formulas:

##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 is methyl or hydrogen, R.sup.2 is an ester function (RC(O)O), R.sup.3 is hydrogen, R.sup.4 is alpha or beta hydrogen, R.sup.5 is RCO or any hydrocarbon structure (R), and wherein R (in R.sup.2 or R.sup.5) is independently selected from any structure comprising 10 carbon atoms or fewer, which is linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, may comprise cyclic or aromatic functions within the structure, and wherein R contains no more than 1 OH or NR.sub.2, or 2 ether or thioether functions.

Described herein are neuroactive steroids of the Formula (I): ##STR00001##
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein , A, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are as defined herein. Such compounds are envisioned, in certain embodiments, to behave as GABA modulators. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of the present invention and methods of use, e.g., for treating a subject suffering from a disease or disorder described herein.

The disclosure provides a method of treating a patient having postpartum depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, menopausal depression, or delirium tremens comprising administering an effective amount of an injectable neurosteroid formulation to the patient. In certain embodiments the injectable neurosteroid formulation is an injectable ganaxolone formulation. Two types of injectable neurosteroid formulations may be used in the disclosed methods. The first such formulation is an injectable formulation containing ganaxolone and sulfobutyl ether -cyclodextrin in a 1:1 inclusion complex. The second such formulation is an injectable neurossteroid formulation comprising a neurosteroid, preferably ganaxolone, but which may be a neurosteroid selected from allopregnanolone, ganaxolone, alphaxalone, alphadolone, hydroxydione, minaxolone, pregnanolone, tetrahydrocorticosterone, and combinations of the foregoing; a surface stabilizer selected from hydroxyl ethyl starch, dextran, and povidone; and a surfactant.

The present invention further provides method of preparing nanocrystals of a hydrophobic therapeutic agent such as fluticasone or triamcinolone, pharmaceutical compositions (e.g., topical or intranasal compositions) thereof and methods for treating and/or preventing the signs and/or symptoms of disorders such as blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction or skin inflammation or a respiratory disease (e.g., asthma).