Systems and methods for treating panic attacks

• US 20040265353A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zars, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zars, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Jie, Ashburn, Michael A., Warner, Kevin S.
• Application Number:
  US10/856,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20040265353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/423
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0261 medicated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00187 insulating; warmth or cold applying
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00204 insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00906 for transcutaneous or transdermal drugs application
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0091 with disinfecting or anaesthetics means, e.g. anti-mycrobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/032 using oxygen from the air, e.g. pocket-stoves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/034 Flameless
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4468 having a nitrogen directly attached in position 4, e.g. clebopride, fentanyl
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4535 containing a heterocyclic ring having sulfur as a ring hetero atom, e.g. pizotifen
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/66 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/10 Alcohols; Phenols; Salts thereof, e.g. glycerol; Polyethylene glycols [PEG]; Poloxamers; PEG/POE alkyl ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/14 Esters of carboxylic acids, e.g. fatty acid monoglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, parabens or PEG fatty acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/22 Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. ascorbic acid, tocopherol or pyrrolidones
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/32 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. carbomers , poly(meth)acrylates, or polyvinyl pyrrolidone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0014 Skin, i.e. galenical aspects of topical compositions non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00; A61K9/0009, A61K9/0021, A61K9/7015, A61K9/7023 take precedence; cosmetic preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; preparations for wound dressings or bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7053 obtained by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl, polyisobutylene, polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7069 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon to carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polysiloxane, polyesters, polyurethane, polyethylene oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 : Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 : Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/08 : for nausea, cinetosis or vertigo; Antiemetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/02 : for peripheral neuropathies
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/22 : Anxiolytics

Abstract

Systems and methods for attenuating a panic attack are provided. Such methods can comprise steps of delivering a drug to a subject such that the drug forms a depot beneath a skin surface, wherein the drug is suitable for attenuating a panic attack if delivered in a pharmaceutically effective amount into systemic circulation of the subject; and applying heat to the skin surface when the subject experiences an onset of the panic attack, thereby causing the pharmaceutically effective amount of the drug to rapidly enter systemic circulation from the depot.

Claims

1. A method for attenuating a panic attack, comprising steps of:

delivering a drug to a subject such that the drug forms a depot beneath a skin surface, said drug suitable for attenuating a panic attack if delivered in a pharmaceutically effective amount into systemic circulation of the subject; and

applying heat to said skin surface when said subject experiences an onset of the panic attack, thereby causing the pharmaceutically effective amount of the drug to enter systemic circulation from the depot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said subject has a history of at least one panic attack.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said depot is located within 0.5 cm of said skin surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying heat is within 5 minutes from the onset of the panic attack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the skin surface is heated at from 37°

C. and 47°

C.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering is by applying the drug to the skin surface, and wherein the drug transdermally forms the depot.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering is by implanting the drug below the skin surface to form the depot.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat by an oxidation reaction between a component within said controlled heating device and oxygen in ambient air.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said component within said controlled heating device is iron.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat through electric heat, microwave heat, or exothermic phase transition.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the drug is a benzodiazepine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the benzodiazepine is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, midazolam, and combinations thereof.

13. A method for reducing the occurrence of panic attacks as well as attenuate panic attacks at their onset, comprising steps of:

delivering a drug to a subject having a history of panic attacks such that the drug;

i) generates a baseline level of the drug within systemic circulation of the subject, and

ii) forms a depot of the drug beneath a skin surface of the subject that is deliverable into systemic circulation upon application of heat,

said drug being suitable for reducing the occurrences of panic attacks when delivered at the baseline level, and said drug also being suitable for attenuating the symptoms of a panic attack upon onset when an extra dose of it is delivered from the depot into systemic circulation; and

applying the heat to said skin surface when said symptoms of the panic attack are experienced by the subject.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said depot is located within 0.5 cm of said skin surface.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of applying heat is within 5 minutes from the onset of the panic attack.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the skin surface is heated at from 37°

C. and 47°

C.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of delivering is by applying the drug to the skin surface, and wherein the drug transdermally forms the depot.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of delivering is by implanting the drug below the skin surface to form the depot.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat by an oxidation reaction between a component within said controlled heating device and oxygen in ambient air.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said component within said controlled heating device is iron.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat through electric heat, microwave heat, or exothermic phase transition.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the drug is a benzodiazepine.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the benzodiazepine is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, midazolam, and combinations thereof.

24. A system for attenuating a panic attack, comprising:

a drug delivery device configured to form a depot of drug beneath a skin surface of a subject, said drug suitable for attenuating a panic attack if delivered in a pharmaceutically effective amount into systemic circulation of the subject; and

a heating device configured to apply heat to the skin surface upon the onset of the panic attack, thereby causing the pharmaceutically effective amount of the drug to enter systemic circulation from the depot.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said system is configured for delivery to the subject when the subject has a history of at least one panic attack.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said depot is located within 0.5 cm of said skin surface.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the step of applying heat is within 5 minutes from the onset of the panic attack.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the skin surface is heated at from 37°

C. and 47°

C.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the step of delivering is by applying the drug to the skin surface, and wherein the drug transdermally forms the depot.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the step of delivering is by implanting the drug below the skin surface to form the depot.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat by an oxidation reaction between a component within said controlled heating device and oxygen in ambient air.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said component within said controlled heating device is iron.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat through electric heat, microwave heat, or exothermic phase transition.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the drug is a benzodiazepine.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the benzodiazepine is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, midazolam, and combinations thereof.

36. A system for reducing the occurrence of panic attacks as well as attenuate panic attacks at their onset, comprising:

a drug delivery device configured to;

i) generate a baseline level of the drug within systemic circulation of a subject, and

ii) form a depot of the drug beneath a skin surface of the subject that is deliverable into systemic circulation upon application of heat,

said drug suitable for reducing the occurrences of panic attacks when delivered at the baseline level, and said drug also suitable for attenuating the symptoms of a panic attack upon onset when an extra dose of it is delivered from the depot into systemic circulation; and

a heating device configured to apply the heat to the skin surface upon the onset of the panic attack.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said subject has a history of at least one panic attack.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein said depot is located within 0.5 cm of said skin surface.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the step of applying heat is within 5 minutes from the onset of the panic attack.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the skin surface is heated at from 37°

C. and 47°

C.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the step of delivering is by applying the drug to the skin surface, and wherein the drug transdermally forms the depot.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the step of delivering is by implanting the drug below the skin surface to form the depot.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat by an oxidation reaction between a component within said controlled heating device and oxygen in ambient air.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said component within said controlled heating device is iron.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein the step of applying heat is achieved using a controlled heating device which generates heat through electric heat, microwave heat, or exothermic phase transition.

46. The system of claim 36, wherein the drug is a benzodiazepine.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the benzodiazepine is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam, midazolam, and combinations thereof.