Hydrocodone therapy

A therapeutic composition comprising 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone, 10 to 50 mg of alkali carboxymethylcellulose of 70,000 to 400,000 molecular weight, 5 to 50 mg of hydroxypropylalkylcellulose of 9,000 to 150,000 molecular weight, and 0.01 to 5 mg of a lubricant.

A bilayer composition comprising a hydrocodone layer comprising 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone, 10 mg to 350 mg of a poly(alkylene oxide) of 75,000 to 400,000 molecular weight, 5 to 50 mg of a hydroxyalkylcellulose of 9,000 to 450,000 molecular weight and 0.01 to 5 mg of a lubricant;

• and a push layer comprising 25 to 300 mg of a poly(alkylene oxide) of 3,000,000 to 7,500,000 molecular weight, 5 to 150 mg of an osmagent, and 1 to 30 mg of a hydroxypropylalkylcellulose of 9,200 to 175,000 molecular weight.

A bilayer composition comprising a hydrocodone layer comprising 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone, 10 to 50 mg of alkli carboxymethylcellulose comprising a 70,000 to 400,000 molecular weight, 5 to 50 mg of hydroxypropylalkylcellulose of 9,000 to 150,000 molecular weight;

• and a push layer comprising 10 to 60 mg of an alkali carboxymethylcellulose of 650,000 to 1,200,000 molecular weight, 5 to 75 mg of an osmagent, and 1 to 30 mg of a hydroxypropylalkylcellulose of 9,000 to 150,000 molecular weight.

A method for administering 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone to a patient in need of hydrocodone therapy, which method comprises admitting orally into the gastrointestinal tract of the patient a sustained delivery composition comprising the hydrocodone, and a polymer carrier for the hydrocodone comprising a 75,000 to 400,000 molecular weight that is delivered at a rate of release of 0.5 mg to 10 mg per hour over a sustained period of 20 hours.

A method for administering 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone to a patient in need of hydrocodone therapy, which method comprises orally administering the hydrocodone at a rate of 0.5 mg to 10 mg per hour over 20 hours, for hydrocodone therapy.

A method for administering 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone to a patient in need of hydrocodone therapy, which method comprises orally admitting into the gastrointestinal tract of the patient a bilayer comprising a hydrocodone layer comprising 0.5 to 1250 mg of hydrocodone, 10 mg to 350 mg of poly(alkylene oxide) possessing a 75,000 to 400,000 molecular weight, 5 to 50 mg of a hydroxyalkylcellulose of 9,000 to 450,000 molecular weight and 0.01 to 5 mg of a lubricant;

• and a push layer comprising 25 mg to 300 mg of a poly(alkylene oxide) of 3,000 to 7,500,000 molecular weight 5 to 150 mg an osmagent, and 1 to 30 mg of a hydroxypropylalkylcellulose of 9,200 to 175,000 molecular weight, which bilayer delivers the hydrocodone over a period of 30 hours to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient.