Methods and compositions for reducing the risk associated with the administration of opioid analgesics in patients with diagnosed or undiagnosed respiratory illness

• US 20070031489A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qrxpharma Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Gary Pace, Maree Smith
• Inventors: Pace, Gary, Smith, Maree
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/464
• 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 31/445 Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine
• 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: A61P 11/00 Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 11/06 Antiasthmatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/04 Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/20 Hypnotics; Sedatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for reducing the risk associated with the administration of opioid analgesics in patients diagnosed or undiagnosed with respiratory illness by administering an analgesic composition comprising a sub-analgesic dosage of a p-opioid agonist selected from the group consisting of morphine, fentanyl, sufentanil, alfentanil, oxymorphone and hydromorphone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a sub-analgesic dosage of oxycodone which is a κ₂-opioid agonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Claims

1. A method of minimizing the risk of developing sleep apnea in susceptible patients treated for the alleviation or prevention of pain, wherein the method comprises the step of administering an analgesic composition comprising a sub-analgesic dosage of a p-opioid agonist selected from the group consisting of morphine, fentanyl, sufentanil, alfentanil, oxymorphone and hydromorphone, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a sub-analgesic dosage of oxycodone, a κ

₂-opioid agonist, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 20, wherein the sleep apnea is selected from the group consisting of central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and mixed sleep apnea.

3. An analgesic composition comprising a sub-analgesic dosage of morphine, a p-opioid agonist, and a sub-analgesic dosage of oxycodone, a κ

₂-opioid agonist, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the composition, upon administration to a patient, achieves an analgesic effect in that patient, equivalent to the analgesic effect that would result from the administration of an analgesic composition consisting of about twice the mass of morphine alone.

4. An analgesic composition comprising a sub-analgesic dosage of morphine, a p-opioid agonist, and a sub-analgesic dosage of oxycodone, a κ

₂-opioid agonist, or