PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS AND METHODS OF USE
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a topical composition including a topically acting anesthetic active ingredient; an ester; a non-ionic surfactant; a polar solvent; water, and optionally a buffer, a pH adjusting agent or an anti-oxidant. The compositions are useful for alleviating pain especially associated with acute herpes zoster.
1 . A topical composition, said composition comprising:
a) a topically acting anesthetic active ingredient;
b) an ester selected from the group consisting of a citric acid ester and ethyl acetate;
c) a non-ionic surfactant;
d) a polar solvent; and
e) water or an aqueous buffer.
2 . (canceled)
3 . (canceled)
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anesthetic active ingredient is in a subanesthetic amount.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anesthetic active ingredient is in the amount of about 0.1% to about 20% w/w.
6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein said anesthetic active ingredient is in the amount of about 6% to about 13% w/w.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said anesthetic active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of tetracaine, lidocaine, prilocalne, benzocaine, bupivacaine, mepivacaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, butacaine, cyclomethycaine, hexylcaine, proparacaine, lopivacaine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
8 . The composition of claim 7 , wherein said anesthetic active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of lidocaine hydrochloride and lidocaine base.
9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition is substantially free of a lower alkanol.
10 . (canceled)
11 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said ester is a citric acid ester.
12 . (canceled)
13 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said citric acid ester is a member selected from the group consisting of triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate and a combination thereof.
14 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein said citric acid ester is triethyl citrate.
15 . (canceled)
16 . (canceled)
17 . (canceled)
18 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said non-ionic surfactant is a member selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan sesquistearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexastearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitol tetraoleate, polyoxyethylene lauryl ester, polyoxyethylene stearyl ester, polyoxyethylene oleyl ester, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene hexadecyl ether, propylene glycol monostearate, polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether and a combination thereof.
19 . The composition of claim 18 , wherein said non-ionic surfactant is a member selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate.
20 . (canceled)
21 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said polar solvent is a member selected from the group consisting of a diol, a triol, a polyol, transcutol, a low-weight PEG, and panthenol.
22 . (canceled)
23 . (canceled)
24 . (canceled)
25 . (canceled)
26 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said polar solvent is diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (transcutol).
27 . (canceled)
28 . (canceled)
29 . (canceled)
30 . (canceled)
31 . (canceled)
32 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a preservative selected from the group consisting of propyl paraben, methyl paraben or a combination thereof.
33 . (canceled)
34 . (canceled)
35 . (canceled)
36 . (canceled)
37 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the buffer is a citrate buffer.
38 . The composition of claim 37 , wherein the concentration of the buffer ranges from about 1 mM to about 500 mM.
39 . (canceled)
40 . (canceled)
41 . (canceled)
42 . (canceled)
43 . (canceled)
44 . (canceled)
45 . (canceled)
46 . (canceled)
47 . (canceled)
48 . (canceled)
49 . A method for alleviating pain, said method comprising:
applying to an affected area a topical composition, said composition comprising:
a) a topically acting anesthetic active ingredient;
b) an ester selected from the group consisting of a citric acid ester and ethyl acetate;
c) a non-ionic surfactant;
d) a polar solvent; and
e) water or an aqueous buffer, thereby alleviating pain.
50 . (canceled)
51 . (canceled)
52 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the method of application of the composition is by spraying.
53 . (canceled)
54 . (canceled)
55 . (canceled)
56 . (canceled)
57 . (canceled)
58 . (canceled)
59 . (canceled)
60 . (canceled)
61 . (canceled)
62 . (canceled)
63 . (canceled)
64 . (canceled)
65 . (canceled)
66 . (canceled)
67 . (canceled)
68 . (canceled)
69 . (canceled)
70 . (canceled)
71 . (canceled)
72 . (canceled)
73 . (canceled)
74 . (canceled)
75 . (canceled)
76 . (canceled)
77 . (canceled)
78 . (canceled)
79 . (canceled)
80 . (canceled)
81 . (canceled)
82 . (canceled)
83 . The method of claim 49 , wherein said pain is experienced by a human subject afflicted by acute herpes zoster.
84 . (canceled)
85 . (canceled)
86 . (canceled)
87 . (canceled)
88 . (canceled)
89 . (canceled)
90 . (canceled)
91 . (canceled)
92 . (canceled)
93 . (canceled)
94 . (canceled)
95 . (canceled)
96 . (canceled)