Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using nicotinic antagonists for treating a condition or disorder characterized by alteration in normal neurotransmitter release

A pharmaceutical composition incorporating a nicotinic antagonist is provided. The composition is an effective amount of a compound of the formula: wherein X' is nitrogen or carbon bonded to a substituent species characterized as having a sigma m value greater than 0, less than 0 or 0; X is nitrogen or carbon bonded to a substituent species characterized as having a sigma m value greater than 0, less than 0 or 0; A, A' and A'' are individually substituent species characterized as having a sigma m value greater than 0, less than 0 or 0; Z' is a substituent other than hydrogen; j is an integer from 0 to 5; and the wavy line in the structure indicates that the compound can exist in the form of an enantiomer or a diasteromer; Z'' is hydrogen or a substituent other than hydrogen; Y is C=O, C(OH)R' or C-A, where R' is hydrogen or lower alkyl.