PATIENTS SUSCEPTIBLE TO OR SUFFERING FROM CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS, SUCH AS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS, ARE TREATED BY ADMINISTERING TO A PATIENT IN NEED THEREOF COMPOSITIONS THAT ARE HYDROXYBENZOATE SALTS OF E-METANICOTINE-TYPE COMPOUNDS. THE FORMATION OF HYDROXYBENZOATE SALTS OF THE E-METANICOTINE COMPOUNDS IS ALSO USEFUL IN PURIFYING THE E-METANICOTINE COMPOUNDS, AS THE HYDROXYBENZOATE SALTS TEND TO CRYSTALLIZE OUT, LEAVING IMPURITIES SUCH AS Z-METANICOTINE COMPOUNDS, AND COMPOUNDS WHERE THE DOUBLE BOND HAS MIGRATED, IN SOLUTION. IF DESIRED, THE HYDROXYBENZOATE SALTS CAN BE CONVERTED TO EITHER THE FREE BASE (THE E-METANICOTINE) OR TO ANOTHER PHARMACEUTICALLY ACCEPTABLE SALT FORM.
