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 incited by a bone fracture;

wherein the dosage form is administered 2, 3, or 4 times within a period of about one month so that a total of about 200 mg/m 2 to about 400 mg/m 2 of the zoledronic acid is administered to the human being within a month;

wherein an AUC of zoledronic acid in the human being, measured over a period of one month from the first time the dosage form is orally administered, is about 500 n·gh/mL to about 1000 n·gh/mL;

wherein the dosage form provides a bioavailability of zoledronic acid of about 1.1% to about 1.8% to the human being;

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 zoledronic acid is in a sodium salt 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 total of about 200 mg/m 2 to about 400 mg/m 2 of the zoledronic acid is orally administered for only 1 month.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a total amount of about 400 mg/m 2 to about 800 mg/m 2 of the zoledronic acid is orally administered within 2 months.

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 the human being who has fasted for 1 hour before the dosage form is administered, and has fasted for 1 hour after the dosage form is administered.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1.1% to about 1.3%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for 1 hour before the dosage form is administered, and has fasted for 1 hour after the dosage form is administered.

12. The method of claim 1 , 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 1 hour before the dosage form is administered, and has fasted for 1 hour after the dosage form is administered.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1.5% to about 1.8%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for 1 hour before the dosage form is administered, and has fasted for 1 hour after the dosage form is administered.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bioavailability of zoledronic acid in the dosage form is about 1.3% to about 1.5%, as determined when orally administered to a human being who has fasted for 1 hour before the dosage form is administered, and has fasted for 1 hour after the dosage form is administered.

15. 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 zoledronic acid in the diacid form.

16. The method of claim 4 , wherein the dosage form contains about 100 mg to about 200 mg of the sodium salt form of the zoledronic acid.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosage form contains about 160 mg of the zoledronic acid, based upon the weight of the zoledronic acid in the diacid form.

18. The method of claim 1 , 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.

19. The method of claim 1 , 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.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the human being is at least 18 years of age.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein a single oral administration of the dosage form results in an AUC of zoledronic acid of about 200 ng·h/mL to about 400 ng·h/mL.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosage form is orally administered three times.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein an amount of an opioid that is orally administered to the human being is reduced after the dosage form is orally administered.

24. The method of claim 1 , 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.

25. The method of claim 1 , 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.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid in an acid form or a salt form is orally administered to the human being weekly for at least 4 weeks.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zoledronic acid in an acid form or a salt form is administered in a manner that maximizes bioavailability.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein, to maximize bioavailability, the zoledronic acid in the acid form or the salt form is administered after at least 2 hours of fasting, and the zoledronic acid in the acid form or the salt form is administered prior to at least 2 hours of fasting.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosage form contains about 160 mg of the zoledronic acid in an acid form or a salt form.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the dosage form is orally administered to the human being at an interval of about 14 days to about 16 days for a total of 3 times.