The present invention relates to methods of alleviating pain with the administration of norketamine with a
narcotic. More particularly, the invention provides a method of alleviating pain through the administration of a
dose of norketamine, which, if administered alone would provide sub-optimal
analgesic relief, yet provides
analgesic relief when combined with a
narcotic. In some embodiments, the combination of norketamine with a
narcotic, further allows for the administration of a
dose narcotic, which would be sub-optimal if used alone, but provides adequate
pain relief in combination with norketamine. The invention relates to self-management of pain on an outpatient basis comprising administering via conventional routes, including transdermal, nasal, rectal, oral, transmucosal, intravenous, intramuscular, and other routes, one or more doses of norketamine /
opioid compositions effective to alleviate pain to a subject suffering from pain. Uses of norketamine /
opioid compositions would also apply, to treating
headaches,
drug abuse,
mood and
anxiety disorders, as well as other, neuropsychiatric disorders, both motoric and cognitive, such as Alzheimer's
disease, Parkinson'
s syndrome, which are thought to be caused by
neurodegeneration.