NORIBOGAINE IN THE TREATMENT OF PAIN AND DRUG ADDICTION
The present invention is directed to methods of treating patients for pain by administering noribogaine. Noribogaine may also be used to treat patients for the symptoms associated with withdrawal from drug dependency. In the latter case, the noribogaine treatment should be supplemented with the administration of an opioid antagonist such as naloxone.
1 . A method of treating a patient to alleviate pain, comprising:
administering systemically an amount of noribogaine to said patient effective to reduce or eliminate pain in said patient.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said patient is administered a pharmaceutical composition comprising said noribogaine and wherein said noribogaine is the sole analgesic agent in said pharmaceutical composition.
3 . A method of alleviating pain in a patient for whom opioid analgesics are contraindicated, comprising: administering systemically an amount of noribogaine to said patient effective to reduce or eliminate pain in said patient in the absence of any concomitant opioid analgesic therapy.
4 . The method of any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein said noribogaine is administered to said patient at a dose of between 0.1 mg and 100 mg per kg of body weight.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said noribogaine is administered at a dose of between 1.0 mg and 30 mg per kg of body weight.
6 . A method of treating a patient to alleviate pain, comprising:
a) administering systemically to said patient an amount of noribogaine; and
b) concomitantly administering systemically to said patient an amount of one or more opioid antagonists;
wherein said respective amounts of noribogaine and said one or more opioid antagonists are effective to reduce or eliminate pain in said patient.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said opioid antagonist is naloxone, administered to said patient at a dose of between 0.05 mg and 0.5 mg for each mg of noribogaine.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said opioid antagonist is naltrexone, administered to said patient at a dose of between 0.05 mg and 0.5 mg for each mg of noribogaine.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said noribogaine and said opioid antagonist are administered transdermally.
10 - 24 . (canceled)