CRF receptor antagonists are disclosed which have utility in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including the treatment of disorders manifesting hypersecretion of CRF in a warm-blooded animals, such as stroke. The CRF receptor antagonists of this invention have the following structure:
including stereoisomers, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R
1
, R
2
, R
3
, Y, Ar, and Het are as defined herein. Compositions containing a CRF receptor antagonist in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also disclosed, as well as methods for use of the same.