Pharmaceutical compositions containing indistinguishable drug components
First Claim
1. An oral pharmaceutical multi-particulate dosage form comprising at least two populations of particles, a first population of opioid agonist particles and a second population of opioid antagonist particles wherein said opioid agonist particles provide an analgesically effective amount of opioid agonist and said opioid antagonist particles provide an amount of opioid antagonist effective to attenuate side effects associated with chronic dosing of said opioid agonist, said first population of opioid agonist particles and said second population of opioid antagonist particles being visually indistinguishable, thereby reducing the potential for drug abuse of said opioid agonist by separation of said opioid agonist from said opioid antagonist.
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Abstract
An oral pharmaceutical multi-particulate dosage form comprising at least two populations of particles, a first population of opioid agonist particles and a second population of opioid antagonist particles and a method for producing the dosage form are described. The opioid agonist particles provide an analgesically effective amount of opioid agonist and the opioid antagonist particles provide an amount of opioid antagonist effective to attenuate side effects associated with chronic dosing of the opioid agonist. The first population of opioid agonist particles and the second population of opioid antagonist particles are visually indistinguishable, thereby reducing the potential for drug abuse of the opioid agonist by separation of the two particle populations. In accordance with particular aspects of the invention, the opioid agonist particles and opioid antagonist particles are each provided with sustained release membrane coatings capable of releasing the opioid agonist and opioid antagonist at proportionate rates over a dosing interval. The dosing interval may be at least about 8 hours and preferably from about 12-24 hours. The dosage form in accordance with particular embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a non-opioid analgesic, preferably in the form of immediate release or sustained release particles.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An oral pharmaceutical multi-particulate dosage form comprising at least two populations of particles, a first population of opioid agonist particles and a second population of opioid antagonist particles wherein said opioid agonist particles provide an analgesically effective amount of opioid agonist and said opioid antagonist particles provide an amount of opioid antagonist effective to attenuate side effects associated with chronic dosing of said opioid agonist, said first population of opioid agonist particles and said second population of opioid antagonist particles being visually indistinguishable, thereby reducing the potential for drug abuse of said opioid agonist by separation of said opioid agonist from said opioid antagonist.
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16. A method of preparing a pharmaceutical multi-particulate dosage form comprising a first population of particles comprising an opioid agonist and a second population of particles comprising an opioid antagonist, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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(a) preparing opioid agonist cores by layering an aqueous solution comprising said opioid agonist and a binder on non-pareil seeds;
(b) applying a sustained release coating on said opioid agonist cores, said sustained release coating comprising a water insoluble polymer or a combination of a water insoluble polymer and a water soluble polymer to produce a first population of particles comprising said opioid agonist;
(c) preparing opioid antagonist cores by layering an aqueous solution comprising said opioid antagonist and a binder on non-pareil seeds;
(d) applying a sustained release coating on said opioid antagonist cores, said sustained release coating comprising a water insoluble polymer or a combination of a water insoluble polymer and a water soluble polymer to produce a second population of particles comprising said opioid antagonist; and
(e) filling capsules with said first population of particles and said second population of particles wherein said opioid agonist particles provide an analgesically effective amount of opioid agonist and said opioid antagonist particles provide an amount of opioid antagonist effective to attenuate side effects associated with chronic dosing of said opioid agonists, said first population of particles and said second population of particles being visually indistinguishable, thereby reducing the potential for drug abuse of said opioid agonist by separation of said opioid agonist from said opioid antagonist. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification