Combined nsaid and acetaminophen formulation and method

A method for treating at least one of pain and inflammation in a patient in need thereof with reduced gastrointestinal irritation, the method comprising:

• administering to said patient:
• (i) a therapeutically effective amount of at least one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) agent;
• and
• (ii) a therapeutically effective amount of acetaminophen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein the ratio of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent to acetaminophen or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in a range that provides greater pain relief and reduction of inflammation with less gastrointestinal irritation than that obtainable by administration of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent or acetaminophen or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof alone.

A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of pain and inflammation with reduced gastrointestinal irritation, the composition comprising:

• (a) a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID) comprising ibuprofen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount of from about 100 mg to about 800 mg;
• and
• (b) acetaminophen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount of from about 250 mg to about 750 mg,
• wherein a ratio of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent to the acetaminophen or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is within a range of from about one part by weight of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent to about one-fifth to about one parts by weight of the acetaminophen or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and wherein the composition provides greater pain relief and reduction of inflammation with less gastrointestinal irritation than that obtainable by administration of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent or acetaminophen or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof alone.