200 results about "Opioid antagonist" patented technology

The invention relates in part to a method of reducing the abuse potential of an oral dosage form of an opioid analgesic, wherein an analgesically effective amount of an orally active opioid agonist is combined with an opioid antagonist into an oral dosage form which would require at least a two-step extraction process to be separated from the opioid agonist, the amount of opioid antagonist including being sufficient to counteract opioid effects if extracted together with the opioid agonist and administered parenterally.

The invention is directed in part to oral dosage forms comprising a combination of an orally analgesically effective amount of an opioid agonist and an orally active opioid antagonist, the opioid antagonist being included in a ratio to the opioid agonist to provide a combination product which is analgesically effective when the combination is administered orally, but which is aversive in a physically dependent subject. Preferably, the amount of opioid antagonist included in the combination product provides at least a mildly negative, "aversive" experience in physically dependent addicts (e.g., precipitated abstinence syndrome).

Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic; an opioid antagonist; and an irritant in an effective amount to impart an irritating sensation to an abuser upon administration of the dosage form after tampering.

Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic, an opioid antagonist and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients; the dosage form further including a gelling agent in an effective amount to impart a viscosity unsuitable for administration selected from the group consisting of parenteral and nasal administration to a solubilized mixture formed when the dosage form is crushed and mixed with from about 0.5 to about 10 ml of an aqueous liquid.

An autonomous drug delivery system advantageously utilizes physiological monitor outputs so as to automatically give a bolus of a rescue drug or other necessary medication when certain criteria and confidence levels are met. An emergency button is provided to manually trigger administration of the rescue drug. The rescue drug may be an opioid antagonist in response to an analgesia overdose, a hypotensive drug to avert an excessive drop in blood pressure or an anti-arrhythmia drug to suppress abnormal heartbeats, to name a few.

Controlled-release dosage forms containing an opioid agonist; an opioid antagonist; and a controlled release material release during a dosing interval an analgesic or sub-analgesic amount of the opioid agonist along with an amount of the opioid antagonist effective to attenuate a side effect of the opioid agonist. The dosage form provides analgesia for at least about 8 hours when administered to human patients. In other embodiments, the dose of antagonist released during the dosing interval enhances the analgesic potency of the opioid agonist.

Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic; an opioid antagonist; and a bittering agent in an effective amount to impart a bitter taste to an abuser upon administration of the dosage form after tampering.

Disclosed herein is a method for treating depression associated with alcoholism in a patient comprising administering to the patient a pharmacologically effective dose of an opioid antagonist, and a pharmacologically effective dose of at least one drug compound selected from the group consisting of a tricyclic antidepressant, an a-typical antidepressant, and lithium.

Methods of treating irritable bowel syndrome with peripheral opioid antagonists, such as methylnaltrexone, are provided. Formulations comprising peripheral opioid antagonists, such as methylnaltrexone, and irritable bowel syndrome therapeutic agents are also provided.

Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.

Disclosed are oral dosage forms, comprising (i) a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid agonist; (ii) an opioid antagonist in releasable form; and (iii) a sequestered opioid antagonist which is not released when the dosage form is administered intact, and methods thereof.

Disclosed is an oral dosage form comprising (i) an opioid agonist in releasable form and (ii) a sequestered opioid antagonist which is substantially not released when the dosage form is administered intact, such that the ratio of the mean Cmax of the antagonist after single dose oral administration of the dosage form after tampering to the mean Cmax of antagonist after single dose oral administration of an intact dosage form is at least 1.5:1.

Nicotine dependency is treated by administration of an opioid antagonist. In some embodiments, rapid or ultra rapid detoxification techniques include using a combination of an effective amount of an opioid antagonist such as nalmefene, naloxone or naltrexone or a mixture of any one of these, and either clonidine or related compounds either while awake, or while under sedation or anesthesia, followed by continued administration of an effective amount of an opioid antagonist with or without agents that enhance nicotine dependency treatment. Persons are also treated for nicotine dependency with more gradual detoxification methods using administration of a combination of an effective amount of an opioid antagonist such as nalmefene, naloxone, naltrexone, or a mixture of any of these, and an effective amount of agents used to treat nicotine withdrawal including nicotine, such as that delivered by a nicotine patch, nicotine chewing gum, nicotine inhaler or other methods for delivering nicotine, antidepressants and antianxiety agents, and / or clonidine and related compounds. Administration of an effective amount of an opioid antagonist to prevent relapse, attenuate craving, and reduce weight gain during and after treatment for nicotine dependency is continued in some embodiments.

Disclosed in certain embodiments is an oral dosage form comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic; an opioid antagonist; and an irritant in an effective amount to impart an irritating sensation to an abuser upon administration of the dosage form after tampering.

Methods and compositions for treating subjects with pain, including neuropathic pain, using opioid antagonists or combinations of opioid antagonists and opioid agonists, including, for example, wherein the amount of an opioid antagonist enhances the neuropathic pain-alleviating potency of an opioid agonist.

Disclosed is an oral dosage form comprising (i) an opioid agonist in releasable form and (ii) a sequestered opioid antagonist which is substantially not released when the dosage form is administered intact, such that the ratio of the amount of antagonist released from said dosage form after tampering to the amount of said antagonist released from said intact dosage form is about 4:1 or greater, based on the in-vitro dissolution at 1 hour of said dosage form in 900 ml of Simulated Gastric Fluid using a USP Type II (paddle) apparatus at 75 rpm at 37 degrees C. wherein said agonist and antagonist are interdispersed and are not isolated from each other in two distinct layers.

The present invention is directed to a combination treatment of an opioid antagonist e.g., naltrexone and a second compound selected from the group consisting of a GABA B agonist, an NMDA antagonist, a serotonin antagonist, and a cannabinoid antagonist is the key to the successful treatment of a brain reward system disorder. A brain reward system, include but are not limited, to pathological gambling, compulsive alcohol consumption, compulsive over-eating and obesity, compulsive smoking, and drug addiction. The compounds and methods of the present invention effectively reduce the cravings, withdrawal symptoms and negative drug side effects associated with a monotherapy. As such, patient compliance is greatly increased, thereby decreasing relapse of a brain reward system disorder.

Methods and materials, including novel compositions, dosage forms and methods of administration, useful for treating arthritic conditions, inflammation associated with a chronic condition, and / or chronic pain, including pain from arthritis and inflammation, using opioid antagonists, including combinations of opioid antagonists and opioid agonists. Methods and materials comprising opioid antagonists or combinations opioid antagonists and agonists may optionally include one or more additional therapeutic agents.

This invention relates to a tamper-resistant transdermal dosage form comprising an active agent, such as an opioid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a free base of an adverse agent, such as an opioid antagonist, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an adverse agent, such as an opioid antagonist. The transdermal dosage form allows an effective amount of the active agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to be transdermally administered to an animal. The invention further relates to methods for treating or preventing pain in an animal comprising contacting the skin of an animal in need thereof with the transdermal dosage form of the invention for an amount of time sufficient to treat or prevent pain.

The present invention is directed to methods of treating patients for pain by administering noribogaine. Noribogaine may also be used to treat patients for the symptoms associated with withdrawal from drug dependency. In the latter case, the noribogaine treatment should be supplemented with the administration of an opioid antagonist such as naloxone.

Methods and compositions for treating, managing or ameliorating pain in a subject (preferably, a mammal, and more preferably, a human) comprising administration of a centrally acting (i.e., crosses the blood brain barrier) agonist of a kappa-opioid receptor and a centrally acting opioid antagonist such that the analgesia achieved by this administration is greater than with administration of either the kappa-opioid receptor agonist or the opioid antagonist alone. Preferably the kappa-opioid receptor is nalbuphine or a salt or prodrug of nalbuphine and the opioid antagonist is naloxone or a salt or prodrug of naloxone. Preferred methods of administration include mucosal (e.g. intranasal or pulmonary) and intravenous. Other kappa-opioid receptors include pentazocine and butorphanol.

The present invention provides abuse-resistant transdermal delivery devices containing an opioid agonist intended for analgesic purposes in pain patients.

The invention provides polymer conjugates of opioid antagonists comprising a polymer, such as poly(ethylene glycol), covalently attached to an opioid antagonist. The linkage between the polymer and the opioid antagonist is preferably hydrolytically stable. The invention also includes a method of treating one or more side effects associated with the use of opioid analgesics, such as constipation, nausea, or pruritus, by administering a polymer conjugate of the invention.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing Distress Dysfunction by restoring and maintaining homeostatic balance in the neurotransmitter systems underlying the Stress Response and the experience of distress and hedonic tone. Distress Dysfunction refers to the experience of dysfunctional emotional and physical distress that interferes with the individual's quality of life and functioning. A novel understanding of the bimodal opioid modulation of pain, and its impact, through serotonergic, dopaminergic, epinephrinergic, and norepinephrinergic processes, on hedonic tone, leads directly to new generation pharmaceutical formulations that are remarkably safe and effective for the treatment of a wide variety of Distress Dysfunctions, including anxiety, depression, anger, insomnia, mood disorders, eating disorders, sexual problems, pain, substance and behavioral addictions, gastrointestinal disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorders, and other emotional and physical distress disorders. The foundation of this discovery is the power of Receptor Switchers, such as ultra-low-dose and very-low-dose opioid antagonists and GM1 ganglioside attenuators, in blocking acute and protracted excitatory opioid receptor signaling. Co-administration of Receptor Switchers with Endorphin Enhancers, such as specific cAMP PDE inhibitors and excitatory amino acids, is an excellent formulation for restoring healthy homeostatic balance to the endogenous opioid system, using the body's endorphins to reduce emotional and physical distress, and through synergistic and homeostatic processes, restoring positive hedonic tone. The addition of Synergistic Enhancers, such as amino acids, SSRI and SNRI agents, and non-opioid analgesics, as well as Exogenous Opioids, enhances and prolongs these therapeutic benefits. The novel principles discovered by this invention also teach a new generation of safe and effective formulations for the treatment of respiratory conditions, neuropathy, and nociceptive pain.

Methods and compositions for treating a blood glucose condition involve identifying a suitable subject and administering an effective amount of a composition that contains one or more of an opioid antagonist, an anticonvulsant, and a psychotherapeutic agent. The compositions can include insulin. In some embodiments, such methods and compositions can be used to modulate a blood glucose level. In preferred embodiments, such methods and compositions are useful for increasing a subject's sensitivity to insulin.