Pharmaceutical Combination

Abstract

A composition of matter comprising in combination as component (a) at least one 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)-phenol compound, and as component (b) at least one antiepileptic, a pharmaceutical formulation and a dosage form comprising said composition of matter, and a method of treating pain, e.g. neuropathic pain, in which components (a) and (b) are administered simultaneously or sequentially to a mammal, whereby component (a) may be administered before or after component (b) and whereby components (a) or (b) are administered to the mammal either via the same or a different pathway of administration.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 12 / 554,235, filed Sep. 4, 2009. Priority is claimed from U.S. provisional patent application No. 61 / 094,787, filed Sep. 5, 2008. Priority is also claimed based on European patent application no. EP 08 015 625.0, filed Sep. 5, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a combination comprising as components (a) at least one 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)-phenol compound, and (b) at least one antiepileptic, a pharmaceutical formulation and a dosage form comprising said combination as well as a method of treating pain, e.g. neuropathic pain, wherein components (a) and (b) are administered simultaneously or sequentially to a mammal, whereby component (a) may be administered before or after component (b) and whereby components (a) or (b) are administered to the mammal either via the same or a different pathway of administratio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Thus, it was an object of the present invention to find further combinations having improved properties. It was also an object of the present invention to find further combinations that are suitable for the treatment of pain and which preferably exhibit fewer undesired side effects compared to its individual components, if administered in effective doses.

[0006]It has been found that a combination comprising (a) at least one 3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)-phenol compound, and (b) at least one antiepileptic exhibits an analgesic effect. If these components are present in the composition in such a weight ratio that a supra-additive or synergistic effect is observed upon administration to the patients, the overall administered dose may be lowered, so that fewer undesired side-effects will occur.

[0091]In order to obtain a solid pharmaceutical formulation such as a tablet, for example, the components of the pharmaceutical composition may be granulated with a pharmaceutical carrier, for example conventional tablet ingredients such as corn starch, lactose, saccharose, sorbitol, talcum, magnesium stearate, dicalcium phosphate or pharmaceutically acceptable gums, and pharmaceutical diluents, for example water, in order to form a solid composition that contains the components in homogeneous distribution. The term “homogeneous distribution” is taken to mean that the components are distributed uniformly over the entire composition, so that said composition may easily be divided into equally effective unit dose forms, such as tablets, pills or capsules and the like. The solid composition is then divided into unit dose forms. The tablets or pills of the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention may also be coated or compounded in a different manner, in order to provide a dose form with a controlled release.

Problems solved by technology

Even if the analgesics that are currently used for treating pain, for example opioids, NA- and 5HT-reuptake inhibitors, NSAIDS and COX inhibitors, are analgesically effective, side effects nevertheless sometimes occur.

Images