Compositions for oral administration of zoledronic acid or related compounds for treating complex regional pain syndrome

1. A method of treating pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome comprising orally administering a dosage form comprising zoledronic acid to a human being suffering from complex regional pain syndrome related to an inciting event;

wherein the dosage form is administered 2, 3, or 4 times within a period of about one month so that a total of about 400 mg to about 500 mg of the zoledronic acid is administered to the human being;

wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 200 ng·h/mL to about 1000 ng·h/mL;

wherein the human being has an average weekly pain intensity of at least 4, on the 0-10 numeric rating scale, prior to receiving the zoledronic acid;

wherein the dosage form provides a bioavailability of zoledronic acid of about 1.1% to about 2%, when orally administered to a human being in a fasted state;

wherein the human being fasts for at least one hour before the zoledronic acid is orally administered and for at least one hour after the zoledronic acid is orally administered; and

wherein the human being remains upright for at least about 30 minutes after the zoledronic acid is orally administered.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is in an acid form.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is in a salt form.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the imidazole ring of the zoledronic acid is in an imidazolium form.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is orally administered in at least two consecutive doses that are at least about 1 week apart.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 200 ng·h/mL to about 500 ng·h/mL.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 500 ng·h/mL to about 1000 ng·h/mL.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 500 ng·h/mL to about 700 ng·h/mL.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 700 ng·h/mL to about 1000 ng·h/mL.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid is in a dosage form that provides a bioavailability of zoledronic acid of about 1.1% to about 1.5%, when orally administered to a human being in a fasted state.

11. A method of treating pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome comprising orally administering a dosage form to a human being in need thereof;

wherein the dosage form is prepared by a method comprising combining 1) about 30 mg to about 200 mg of zoledronic acid with 2) an excipient, a disintegrating agent, a diluent, a binder, a lubricant, a flavoring agent, a coating, a capsule, or a combination thereof;

wherein the dosage form is orally administered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times at a frequency that is no greater than about once weekly; and

no more than 500 mg of the zoledronic acid is orally administered within a period of six months;

wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 300 ng·h/mL to about 1000 ng·h/mL;

wherein the human being has an average weekly pain intensity of at least 5, on the 0-10 numeric rating scale, prior to receiving the zoledronic acid;

wherein the dosage form provides a bioavailability of zoledronic acid, when orally administered to a human being in a fasted state, of about 1% to about 3%;

wherein the human being fasts for at least about two hours before the zoledronic acid is orally administered and for at least one hour after the zoledronic acid is orally administered; and

wherein the human being remains upright for at least about one hour after the zoledronic acid is orally administered.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the zoledronic acid is in an acid form.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the zoledronic acid is in a disodium salt form.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the imidazole ring of the zoledronic acid is in an imidazolium form.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1% to about 1.3%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for eight hours.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1.2% to about 1.5%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for eight hours.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1.5% to about 2%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for eight hours.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 2.5% to about 3%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for eight hours.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dosage form contains about 150 mg to about 200 mg of the zoledronic acid, based upon the weight of the diacid form.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dosage form contains about 50 mg to about 60 mg of the disodium salt form of zoledronic acid.

21. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dosage form contains about 50 mg of the zoledronic acid, based upon the weight of the diacid form.

22. The method of claim 11 , wherein the complex regional pain syndrome was precipitated by a traumatic injury.

23. The method of claim 11 , wherein the human being has an average weekly pain intensity of at least 6, on the 0-10 numeric rating scale, prior to receiving the zoledronic acid.

24. The method of claim 11 , wherein the human being is at least 18 years of age.

25. A method of treating pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome comprising orally administering a dosage form comprising zoledronic acid in an acid form or a salt form to a human being in need thereof;

wherein the AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month, is about 100 ng·h/mL to about 1000 ng·h/mL;

wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1.1% to about 1.5%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for eight hours;

wherein the human being has an average weekly pain intensity of at least 4, on the 0-10 numeric rating scale, prior to receiving zoledronic acid;

wherein the human being fasts for at least 30 minutes before the zoledronic acid is orally administered and for at least 30 minutes after the zoledronic acid is orally administered; and

wherein the human being remains upright for at least about 30 minutes after the zoledronic acid is orally administered.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein a single oral administration of the dosage form results in an AUC of zoledronic acid of about 200 ng·hr/mL to about 400 ng·hr/mL.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the complex regional pain syndrome was precipitated by a traumatic injury.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the dosage form is orally administered three times.

29. The method of claim 25 , wherein an amount of an opioid that is orally administered to the human being is reduced after the dosage form is orally administered.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the human being has an average weekly pain intensity of at least 7, on the 0-10 numeric rating scale, prior to receiving the zoledronic acid.