Emetic embedded capsule

• US 20080102113A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Rosenberg 2022 Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Proximate Concepts, LLC
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/452
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4816 Wall or shell material
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4833 Encapsulating processes; Filling of capsules mechanical aspects A61J3/07
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4866 Organic macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

This invention provides capsules containing an emetic, which capsules can encapsulate a drug, wherein the amount of emetic and the amount of drug is such that the number of capsules needed to be ingested to cause emesis is fewer than the number of capsules needed to be ingested to cause overdose of the drug, so that if a person takes an overdose of the emetic encapsulated drug, he or she will vomit before the drug is absorbed by the body.

Claims

1. A capsule piece comprising:

an emetic;

a matrix; and

a plasticizer.

2. The capsule piece of claim 1, further comprising an inert material.

3. The capsule piece of claim 1, wherein said matrix and said plasticizer form a shell having a discrete compartment, said emetic being contained within the compartment, said shell capable of engaging a second capsule piece.

4. The capsule piece of claim 1 formed from an admixture of the matrix, the plasticizer, and the emetic.

5. A capsule comprising the capsule piece of claim 1, and a second capsule piece.

7. The capsule of claim 5, further comprising a unit dosage of a drug, wherein the weight of the emetic is in the range of 1/X to 1/Y of an emetic dose to induce emesis, with X being the number of unit dosages of the drug prescribed for administration within a particular time period and Y being the number of unit dosages of the drug which would constitute an overdose if taken in the same time period.

9. The capsule of claim 5 wherein the emetic is selected from the group consisting of central emetics and gastric emetics.

12. The capsule of claim 5 wherein the emetic is selected from the group consisting of emetine, methyl cephaeline, cephaeline, emetine hydrochloride, psychotrine, O-methylpsychotrine, emetamine, ipecamine, hydro-ipecamine, ipecacunhun acid, apomorphine, ammonium carbonate, cupric sulfate, tartar emetic, zinc sulfate, blacks mustard, sanguinaria, copper sulfate, eucalyptole, eucalyptus oil, glycynhiza, guaiacol, lobelia, potassium iodide, senega terebene, terpin hydrate, thyme, caffeine, lobelia inflata, and sodium bicarbonate salt, and combinations thereof.

13. An emetic encapsulated drug comprising (i) a drug and (ii) a capsule according to claim 5 wherein the amount of emetic and the amount of drug is such that the number of capsules needed to be ingested to cause emesis is fewer than the number of capsules needed to be ingested to cause overdose of said drug.

15. The emetic encapsulated drug according to claim 13 wherein the drug is a drug which can cause death or serious injury to a human at a level of 50 or fewer times the recommended dosage.

16. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 13 wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, vitamins, psychotropics, anti-hypertensitive, anti-seizures, amphetamines, anti-microbials, antibiotics, anti-virals, anti-retrovirals, anti-fungals, anti-depressants, stimulants, anti-histamines, anti-anxiety, tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, mood stabilizers, codeine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anti-allergy, phenothiazine, chemotherapeutics, amines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, anti-carcinogens, analgesics, muscle relaxants, ergot preparations, anti-cholinergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-gout preparations, soporfic, hormonal preparations, appetite suppressants, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and opioids, and combinations thereof.

18. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 16 wherein the drug is codeine.

21. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 16 wherein the drug is an anti-depressant.

26. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 16 wherein the drug is an opioid.

27. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 16 wherein the drug is an analgesic.

28. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 16 wherein the drug is an antipsychotic.

29. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 13 wherein the emetic is any substance capable of inducing emesis.

30. The emetic encapsulated drug of claim 29 wherein the emetic is selected from the group consisting of emetine, methyl cephaeline, cephaeline, emetine hydrochloride, psychotrine, O-methylpsychotrine, emetamine, ipecamine, hydro-ipecamine, ipecacunhun acid, apomorphine, ammonium carbonate, cupric sulfate, tartar emetic, zinc sulfate, blacks mustard, sanguinaria, copper sulfate, eucalyptole, eucalyptus oil, glycynhiza, guaiacol, lobelia, potassium iodide, senega terebene, terpin hydrate, thyme, caffeine, and sodium bicarbonate salt, and combinations thereof.

32. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of a drug overdose comprising encapsulating a drug in the capsule according to claim 5 such that ingesting of a proper amount of drug does not induce emesis, but ingestion of excess drug induces emesis.

33. A method of preventing or reducing the risk of overdose of a drug administered to a patient considered to be at risk of accidentally or deliberately taking an overdose of the drug, comprising encapsulating the drug in the capsule according to claim 5 such that ingesting of a proper amount of the drug does not induce emesis, but ingestion of excess drug induces emesis.

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