Novel Pharmaceutical Compositions for Treating Acquired Chronic Pain and Associated Dysphoria

A pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic combination comprising a) an NMDA antagonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and b) a μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist or agonist/antagonist, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the composition being essentially free of a NSAID or acetaminophen.

A method of effectively treating pain in humans or other mammals, comprising administering to a patient an amount of agents including a) an NMDA antagonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, b) a methylxanthine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and c) a μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist or agonist/antagonist, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the combined amount of said agents is effective to treat pain.

A method of reducing the amount of μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist, agonist/antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof required to treat a patient affected with pain, comprising further administering to a patient being treated with a μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist, agonist/antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof an amount of a) an NMDA antagonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and b) a methylxanthine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, effective to augment the analgesia attributable to said μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist, agonist/antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof during at least a portion of the dosage interval of said μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist, agonist/antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method of reducing the amount of an NMDA antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof required to treat a patient affected with pain comprising further administering to a patient being treated with an NMDA antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof required an amount of a) a μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist, agonist/antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and b) a methylxanthine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, effective to augment the analgesia attributable to said NMDA antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof during at least a portion of the dosage interval of said NMDA antagonist or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for avoiding the toxicities associated with NSAID or acetaminophen therapy in a patient in need of treatment for pain, the method comprising administering to such a patient an amount of an NMDA antagonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a μ-opiate agonist, partial agonist or agonist/antagonist, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the patient is not administered either an NSAID and/or acetaminophen in an amount that induces one or more associated toxicities.