Controlled release formulations of opioid and nonopioid analgesics

• US 20050158382A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Cruz, Evangeline, Ayer, Atul D., Qiu, Yihong, Huang, Ye, Wong, Alfredo M., Garcia, Carmelita, Hamel, Lawrence G., Pollock, Brenda J., Li, Sherry, Klein, Cheri Enders
• Application Number:
  US10/949,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20050158382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/468
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/16 Amides, e.g. hydroxamic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/165 having aromatic rings, e.g. colchicine, atenolol, progabide
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/167 having the nitrogen of a carboxamide group directly attached to the aromatic ring, e.g. lidocaine, paracetamol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/485 Morphinan derivatives, e.g. morphine, codeine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2086 Layered tablets, e.g. bilayer tablets; Tablets of the type inert core-active coat active cores with a complete drug-free outer coat A61K9/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/209 containing drug in at least two layers or in the core and in at least one outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4808 characterised by the form of the capsule or the structure of the filling; Capsules containing small tablets; Capsules with outer layer for immediate drug release capsules filled with granules or microparticles A61K9/16; filled with microcapsules or coated microparticles A61K9/50; with mixture of different granules, microcapsules, (coated) microparticles A61K9/5084
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/5084 Mixtures of one or more drugs in different galenical forms, at least one of which being granules, microcapsules or (coated) microparticles according to A61K9/16 or A61K9/50, e.g. for obtaining a specific release pattern or for combining different drugs tablets containing such a mixture A61K9/2077
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/04 Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/02 without antiinflammatory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

Sustained release dosage forms for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient for providing relief from pain are provided. The sustained release dosage form comprises an immediate release component and a sustained release component, wherein the immediate release component and the sustained release component collectively contain a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic and a therapeutically effective amount of nonopioid analgesic. In a preferred embodiment, the nonopioid analgesic is acetaminophen and the opioid analgesic is hydrocodone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and in preferred embodiments, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is bitartrate. The dosage forms produce plasma profiles in a patient characterized by a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg (per mg hydrocodone bitartrate administered) and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 ng/mL/mg and 7.9 ng/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg (per mg acetaminophen administered) after a single dose.

Claims

1. A sustained release dosage form for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient, comprising

a) an immediate release component;

b) a sustained release component,

wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release component collectively contain a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic and a therapeutically effective amount of nonopioid analgesic, wherein said amount of nonopioid analgesic is between about 20 and about 100 times said amount of opioid analgesic by weight, and said sustained release component provides sustained release of each of said opioid analgesic and said nonopioid analgesic at rates proportional to each other in said dosage form.

2. The sustained release dosage form of claim 1, wherein said nonopioid analgesic has a solubility of less than about 10 mg/mL at 25°

C.

3. The sustained release dosage form of claim 1, wherein said amount of nonopioid analgesic is between about 20 and about 40 times said amount of opioid analgesic by weight.

4. The sustained release dosage form of claim 3, wherein said amount of nonopioid analgesic is between about 27 and about 34 times said amount of opioid analgesic by weight.

5. The sustained release dosage form of claim 1, wherein the nonopioid analgesic is acetaminophen and the opioid analgesic is hydrocodone bitartrate.

6. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the sustained release component contains a loading of acetaminophen of at least 60% by weight.

7. The sustained release dosage form of claim 6, wherein the sustained release component contains a loading of acetaminophen of between about 75% and about 95% by weight.

8. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a plasma profile characterized by a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 ng/mL/mg and 7.9 ng/mL/mg after a single dose.

9. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a minimum Cmax for hydrocodone of about 0.4 ng/mL/mg to a maximum Cmax for hydrocodone of about 1.9 ng/mL/mg and a minimum Cmax for acetaminophen of about 2.0 ng/mL/mg and maximum Cmax for acetaminophen of about 10.4 ng/mL/mg after a single dose.

10. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for hydrocodone of about 0.8±

0.2 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of about 4.1±

1.1 ng/mL/mg after a single dose.

11. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Tmax for hydrocodone of about 1.9±

2.1 to about 6.7±

3.8 hours after a single dose.

12. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Tmax for hydrocodone of about 6.7±

3.8 hours after a single dose.

13. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Tmax for hydrocodone of about 4.3±

3.4 hours after a single dose.

14. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Tmax for acetaminophen of about 1.1±

1.1 to about 2.8±

2.7 hours after a single dose.

15. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Tmax for acetaminophen of about 1.1±

1.1 hours after a single dose.

16. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

17. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a minimum AUC for hydrocodone of about 7.0 ng*hr/mL/mg to a maximum AUC for hydrocodone of about 26.2 ng*hr/mL/mg and a minimum AUC for acetaminophen of about 18.4 ng*hr/mL/mg and maximum AUC for acetaminophen of 79.9 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

18. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces an AUC for hydrocodone of about 15.0±

3.7 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of 41.1±

12.4 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

19. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 ng/mL/mg and 7.9 ng/mL/mg, and wherein the dosage form produces an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

20. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 19.4 and 42.8 ng/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone.

21. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a minimum Cmax for hydrocodone of about 12.7 ng/ml and the maximum Cmax for hydrocodone of about 56.9 ng/mL after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone.

22. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 25.3±

5.7 ng/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone.

23. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 3.0 and about 7.9 μ

g/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen.

24. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a minimum Cmax for acetaminophen of about 2.0 μ

g/ml and the maximum Cmax of about 10.4 μ

g/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen.

25. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 4.1±

1.1 μ

g/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen.

26. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone exhibits an area under the concentration time curve between about 275 and about 562 ng*hr/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone bitartrate.

27. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone exhibits a minimum area under the concentration time curve of about 228 ng*hr/ml and a maximum area under the concentration time curve of about 754 ng*hr/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone bitartrate.

28. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone exhibits an area under the concentration time curve of about 449±

113 ng*hr/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone bitartrate.

29. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen exhibits an area under the concentration time curve between about 28.7 and about 57.1 μ

g*hr/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen.

30. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen exhibits a minimum area under the concentration time curve of about 22.5 μ

g*hr/ml and a maximum area under the concentration time curve of about 72.2 μ

g*hr/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen.

31. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen exhibits an area under the concentration time curve of about 41.1±

12.4 μ

g*hr/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen.

32. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the dosage form produces a Cmax for hydromorphone of between about 0.12 and about 0.35 ng/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone to a non-poor CYP2D6 metabolizer human patient.

33. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration for hydrocodone at 12 hours (C12) is between about 11.0 and about 27.4 ng/ml after a single dose of 30 mg hydrocodone bitartrate in a human patient.

34. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered 5 to the human patient, the plasma concentration for acetaminophen at 12 hours (C12) is between about 0.7 and 2.5 μ

g/ml after a single dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen in a human patient.

35. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile exhibits a width at half height value for hydrocodone of between about 6.4 and about 19.6 hours.

36. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile exhibits a width at half height value for acetaminophen of between about 0.8 and about 12.3 hours.

37. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile exhibits a weight ratio of acetaminophen to hydrocodone between about 114.2 and 284 at one hour after oral administration of a single dose containing 1000 mg acetaminophen and 30 mg hydrocodone to a human patient.

38. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile exhibits a weight ratio of acetaminophen to hydrocodone between about 70.8 and 165.8 at six hours after oral administration of a single dose containing 1000 mg acetaminophen and 30 mg hydrocodone to a human patient.

39. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein when administered to the human patient, the plasma concentration profile exhibits a weight ratio of acetaminophen to hydrocodone between about 36.4 and 135.1 at 12 hours after oral administration of a single dose containing 1000 mg acetaminophen and 30 mg hydrocodone to a human patient.

40. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone characterized by a first peak concentration (Cmax1) occurring within about 1 to 2 hours after oral administration and a second peak concentration (Cmax2), occurring from about 5 to about 9 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

41. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen characterized by a first peak concentration (Cmax1) occurring within about 1 hour after oral administration and a second peak concentration (Cmax2), occurring from about 4 to about 8 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

42. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone characterized by a first peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax1 occurring from about 0.4 to about 2.5 hours after oral administration and a second peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax2 occurring from about 2.9 to about 11.4 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

43. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone characterized by a first peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax1 occurring at about 1.6±

0.9 hours after oral administration and a second peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax2 occurring at about 9.0±

2.4 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

44. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen characterized by a first peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax1 occurring within about 0.5 to about 1.8 hours after oral administration and a second peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax2 occurring from about 1.7 to about 11.9 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

45. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen characterized by a first peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax1 occurring within about 0.7±

0.2 hours after oral administration and a second peak concentration occurring at a time Tmax2 occurring from about 7.7±

4.2 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

46. The sustained release dosage form of claim 5, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone further characterized by a minimum concentration (Cmin) between Cmax1 and Cmax2 after oral administration to the human patient.

47. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the Cmax1 for hydrocodone is from about 15.8 ng/mL to about 35.4 ng/mL.

48. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the minimum Cmax1 for hydrocodone is about 5.4 ng/mL and the maximum Cmax1 is about 41.7 ng/mL.

49. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the Cmax2 for hydrocodone is from about 16.2 ng/mL to about 40.5 ng/mL.

50. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the minimum Cmax2 for hydrocodone is about 12.7 ng/mL and the maximum Cmax2 is about 56.9 ng/mL.

51. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the Cmin for hydrocodone is from about 10.1 ng/mL to about 23.5 ng/mL.

52. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the minimum Cmin 30 for hydrocodone is about 5.2 ng/mL and the maximum Cmin is about 30.9 ng/mL.

53. The sustained release dosage form of claim 46, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma concentration profile for acetaminophen further characterized by a minimum concentration (Cmin) between Cmax1 and Cmax2 after oral administration to the human patient.

54. The sustained release dosage form of claim 53, wherein the Cmax1 for acetaminophen is from about 2.9 μ

g/mL to about 7.9 μ

g/mL.

55. The sustained release dosage form of claim 53, wherein the minimum Cmax1 for acetaminophen is about 1.6 μ

g/mL and the maximum Cmax1 is about 10.4 μ

g/mL.

56. The sustained release dosage form of claim 53, wherein the Cmax2 for acetaminophen is from about 1.5 μ

g/mL to about 5.6 μ

g/mL.

57. The sustained release dosage form of claim 53, wherein the minimum Cmax2 for acetaminophen is about 1.0 μ

g/mL and the maximum Cmax2 is about 8.8 μ

g/mL.

58. The sustained release dosage form of claim 53, wherein the Cmin for acetaminophen is from about 1.2 μ

g/mL to about 3.8 μ

g/mL.

59. The sustained release dosage form of claim 53, wherein the minimum Cmin for acetaminophen is about 0.7 μ

g/mL and the maximum Cmin is about 4.5 μ

g/mL.

60. The sustained release dosage form of claim 1, wherein the sustained release component comprises:

(1) a semipermeable wall defining a cavity and including an exit orifice formed or formable therein;

(2) a drug layer comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic and a nonopioid analgesic contained within the cavity and located adjacent to the exit orifice;

(3) a push displacement layer contained within the cavity and located distal from the exit orifice;

(4) a flow-promoting layer between the inner surface of the semipermeable wall and at least the external surface of the drug layer that is opposite the wall;

wherein the dosage form provides an in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and the nonopioid analgesic for up to about 12 hours after being contacted with water in the environment of use.

61. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the nonopioid analgesic of at least 60% by weight.

62. The sustained release dosage form of claim 61, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the nonopioid analgesic of between about 75% and about 95% by weight.

63. The sustained release dosage form of claim 62, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the nonopioid analgesic of between about 80% and about 85% by weight.

64. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the opioid analgesic between about 1% and about 10% by weight.

65. The sustained release dosage form of claim 64, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the opioid analgesic between about 2% and about 6% by weight.

66. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the amount of the nonopioid analgesic is between about 27 and about 34 times the amount of the opioid analgesic by weight.

67. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the drug layer is exposed to the environment of use as an erodible composition.

68. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and the nonopioid analgesic is zero order or ascending.

69. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic is maintained for from about 6 hours to about 10 hours.

70. The sustained release dosage form of claim 69, wherein the in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic is maintained for about 8 hours.

71. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the drug layer further comprises a disintegrant, a surfactant, a binding agent, or a gelling agent, or mixtures thereof.

72. The sustained release dosage form of claim 71, wherein the drug layer further comprises a nonionic surfactant.

73. The sustained release dosage form of claim 71, wherein the nonionic surfactant is a poloxamer, or a fatty acid ester of polyoxyethylene, or mixtures thereof.

74. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the opioid analgesic is selected from hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, methadone, morphine, codeine, or oxycodone, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

75. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the nonopioid analgesic is acetaminophen.

76. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein the nonopioid analgesic is acetaminophen and the opioid analgesic is hydrocodone bitartrate.

77. The sustained release dosage form of claim 1, wherein the immediate release component comprises a drug coating comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic sufficient to provide an analgesic effect in a patient in need thereof.

78. The sustained release dosage form of claim 76, wherein the immediate release component comprises a drug coating comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen sufficient to provide an analgesic effect in a patient in need thereof.

79. The sustained release dosage form of claim 78, wherein the drug coating comprises from about 60% to about 96.99% acetaminophen by weight.

80. The sustained release dosage form of claim 79, wherein the drug coating comprises from about 75% to about 89.5% acetaminophen by weight.

81. The sustained release dosage form of claim 78, wherein the drug coating comprises from about 0.01% to about 25% hydrocodone bitartrate by weight.

82. The sustained release dosage form of claim 81, wherein the drug coating comprises from about 0.5% to about 15% hydrocodone bitartrate by weight.

83. The sustained release dosage form of claim 78, wherein the drug coating comprises from about 1% to about 3% hydrocodone bitartrate by weight.

84. The sustained release dosage form of claim 78, wherein the dosage form exhibits a release rate in vitro of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic of from about 19% to about 49% released after 0.75 hour, from about 40% to about 70% released after 3 hours, and at least about 80% released after 6 hours.

85. The sustained release dosage form of claim 78, wherein the dosage form exhibits a release rate in vitro of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic of from about 19% to about 49% released after 0.75 hour, from about 35% to about 65% released after 3 hours, and at least about 80% released after 8 hours.

86. The sustained release dosage form of claim 78, wherein the dosage form exhibits a release rate in vitro of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic of from about 19% to about 49% released after 0.75 hour, from about 35% to about 65% released after 4 hours, and at least about 80% released after 10 hours.

87. The sustained release dosage form of claim 60, wherein at least 90% of the nonopioid analgesic and at least 90% of the opioid analgesic are released from the dosage form within 12 hours of being contacted with water in the environment of use.

88. A sustained release dosage form for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient, comprising

a) an immediate release component;

b) a sustained release component,

wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release component collectively contain a therapeutically effective amount of hydrocodone and a therapeutically effective amount of acetaminophen, wherein said amount of acetaminophen is between about 20 and about 100 times said amount of hydrocodone by weight, and wherein the dosage form produces a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 ng/mL/mg and 7.9 ng/mL/mg after a single dose.

89. The sustained release dosage form of claim 88, wherein said sustained release component provides sustained release of each of said hydrocodone and said acetaminophen at rates proportional to each other.

90. A sustained release dosage form for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient, comprising

a) an immediate release component;

b) a sustained release component, wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release component collectively contain a therapeutically effective amount of hydrocodone and a therapeutically effective amount of acetaminophen, wherein said amount of acetaminophen is between about 20 and about 100 times said amount of hydrocodone by weight, and wherein the dosage form produces an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

91. The sustained release dosage form of claim 90, wherein said sustained release component provides sustained release of each of said hydrocodone and said acetaminophen at rates proportional to each other.

92. A sustained release dosage form for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient, comprising

a) an immediate release component;

b) a sustained release component,

wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release component collectively contain a therapeutically effective amount of hydrocodone and a therapeutically effective amount of acetaminophen, wherein said amount of acetaminophen is between about 20 and about 100 times said amount of hydrocodone by weight, wherein the dosage form exhibits a plasma concentration profile for hydrocodone characterized by a first peak concentration (Cmax1) occurring within about 1 to 2 hours after oral administration and a second peak concentration (Cmax2), occurring from about 5 to about 9 hours after oral administration to the human patient.

93. A sustained release dosage form for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient, comprising

an immediate release component;

and

a sustained release component,

wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release component collectively provide a therapeutically effective amount of a nonopioid analgesic and an opioid analgesic, and wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release compoenent provide a means for providing a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 ng/mL/mg and 7.9 ng/mL/mg after a single dose in the plasma of the patient.

94. A sustained release dosage form for twice daily oral dosing to a human patient, comprising

an immediate release component;

and

a sustained release component,

wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release component collectively provide a therapeutically effective amount of a nonopioid analgesic and an opioid analgesic, and wherein said immediate release component and said sustained release compoenent provide a means for providing an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

95. A method for treating pain in a human patient, comprising orally administering to the human patient on a twice-a-day basis an oral sustained release dosage form comprising:

(1) a semipermeable wall defining a cavity and including an exit orifice formed or formable therein;

(2) a drug layer comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an opioid analgesic and a nonopioid analgesic contained within the cavity and located adjacent to the exit orifice;

(3) a push displacement layer contained within the cavity and located distal from the exit orifice;

(4) a flow-promoting layer between the inner surface of the semipermeable wall and at least the external surface of the drug layer that is opposite the wall;

wherein the dosage form provides an in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and the nonopioid analgesic for up to about 12 hours after being contacted with water in the environment of use.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the nonopioid analgesic of at least 60% by weight.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the nonopioid analgesic of between about 75% and about 95% by weight.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the nonopioid analgesic of between about 80% and about 85% by weight.

99. The method of claim 95, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the opioid analgesic between about 1% and about 10% by weight.

100. The method of claim 96, wherein the drug layer contains a loading of the opioid analgesic between about 2% and about 6% by weight.

101. The method of claim 95, wherein the amount of the nonopioid analgesic is between about 20 and about 100 times the amount of the opioid analgesic by weight.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the amount of the nonopioid analgesic is between about 20 and about 40 times the amount of the opioid analgesic by weight.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the amount of the nonopioid analgesic is between about 27 and about 34 times the amount of the opioid analgesic by weight.

104. The method of claim 95, wherein the dosage form releases the opioid analgesic and the nonopioid analgesic at proportional rates relative to each other.

105. The method of claim 95, wherein the drug layer is exposed to the environment of use as an erodible composition.

106. The method of claim 95, wherein the in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and the nonopioid analgesic is zero order or ascending.

107. The method of claim 95, wherein the in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic is maintained for from about 6 hours to about 10 hours.

108. The method of claim 95, wherein the in vitro rate of release of the opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic is maintained for about 8 hours.

109. The method of claim 95, wherein said opioid analgesic is hydrocodone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

110. The method of claim 95, wherein said nonopioid analgesic is acetaminophen.

111. The method of claim 95, further comprising a drug coating comprising an effective amount of an immediate release analgesic composition located on the outside surface of the at least partially semipermeable wall.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma profile characterized by a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 μ

g/mL/mg and 7.9 μ

g/mL/mg in the human patient after a single dose.

113. The method of claim 111, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma profile characterized by an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.

114. A method for providing an effective amount of an analgesic composition for treating pain in a human patient in need thereof, comprising orally admitting into a patient in need thereof a high load dosage form comprising an effective dose of an opioid analgesic agent and a nonopioid analgesic agent contained in a drug layer and an osmotic push composition, wherein said drug layer and push compositions are surrounded by an at least partially semipermeable wall permeable to the passage of water and impermeable to the passage of said analgesic agents, and an exit means in the wall for delivering the analgesic composition from the dosage form, wherein in operation, water enters through the at least partially semipermeable wall into the dosage form causing the osmotic push composition to expand and push the drug layer through the exit means, wherein the drug layer is exposed to the environment of use as an erodible composition, and wherein the nonopioid analgesic and the opioid analgesic are delivered at a controlled rate over a sustained period of time up to about 12 hours providing a therapeutically effective dose to the patient in need thereof.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the dosage form is administered on a twice daily basis for the treatment of pain.

116. The method of claim 114, wherein the analgesic composition further comprises a drug coating providing an immediate delivery of an effective dose of an opioid analgesic agent and a nonopioid analgesic agent to a patient in need thereof.

117. A method for providing an effective concentration of an opioid analgesic and nonopioid analgesic in the plasma of a human patient for the treatment of pain, comprising orally admitting into a patient in need thereof a high load dosage form comprising an effective dose of an opioid analgesic agent and a nonopioid analgesic agent contained in a drug layer, an osmotic displacement composition, wherein said drug layer and displacement compositions are surrounded by an at least partially semipermeable wall permeable to the passage of water and impermeable to the passage of said analgesic agents, and an exit means in the wall for delivering the analgesic composition from the dosage form, wherein in operation, water enters through the at least partially semipermeable wall into the dosage form causing the osmotic displacement composition to expand and push the drug layer through the exit means, wherein the drug layer is exposed to the environment of use as an erodible composition, and wherein the nonopioid analgesic and the opioid analgesic are delivered at a proportional rate over a sustained period of time up to about 12 hours.

118. The method of claim 117, wherein the analgesic composition further comprises a drug coating providing an immediate delivery of an effective dose of an opioid analgesic agent and a nonopioid analgesic agent to a patient in need thereof.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein said opioid analgesic is hydrocodone and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and wherein said nonopioid analgesic is acetaminophen.

120. The method of claim 119, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma profile characterized by a Cmax for hydrocodone of between about 0.6 ng/mL/mg to about 1.4 ng/mL/mg and a Cmax for acetaminophen of between about 2.8 ng/mL/mg and 7.9 ng/mL/mg in the human patient after a single dose.

121. The method of claim 119, wherein the dosage form produces a plasma profile characterized by an AUC for hydrocodone of between about 9.1 ng*hr/mL/mg to about 19.9 ng*hr/mL/mg and an AUC for acetaminophen of between about 28.6 ng*hr/mL/mg and about 59.1 ng*hr/mL/mg after a single dose.