Stable nimodipine parenteral formulation

1. A nimodipine injection concentrate formulation, comprising nimodipine base or a pharmaceutically acceptable nimodipine salt in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 5 mg/ml; an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, dehydrated alcohol, benzyl alcohol, and a combination of benzyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol; a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier; and an effective amount of a hydrophilic surfactant which is polysorbate 80 and the polysorbate 80 is from about 6% w/v to about 10% w/v of the injection concentrate formulation, such that nimodipine in the injection concentrate formulation is contained in micelles and the formulation is stable and clear, wherein the nimodipine injection concentrate formulation does not contain poloxamer, a phospholipid, glycerol, propylene glycol or polyoxyethylene castor oil derivatives.

2. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , comprising nimodipine base or a pharmaceutically acceptable nimodipine salt in a concentration from about 0.5 mg/ml to about 5 mg/ml, from about 30% to about 90% w/v organic solvent; and from about 30 to about 70% w/v of a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier comprising water for injection.

3. The nimodipine injection concentration formulation of claim 1 , wherein the total volume of the concentrate formulation is from about 1 ml to about 10 ml.

4. The nimodipine concentrate formulation of claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is ethanol.

5. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , wherein the nimodipine injection concentrate when diluted with a carrier selected from the group consisting sodium chloride injection, Ringers injection, isotonic dextrose injection, sterile water for injection, dextrose, Lactated Ringers injection, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to a concentration as dilute as 0.01 mg/ml nimodipine allows for administration of a single 250 ml infusion bag or bottle that contains less than 2% w/v organic solvent, and remains a clear micellar solution that displays no precipitation of nimodipine.

6. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , further comprising an effective amount of a preservative selected from the group consisting of cresols, mercurials, benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, methyl and propyl p-hydroxybenzoic acid esters, thimerosal, benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, boric acid, p-hydroxybenzoates, phenols, chlorinated phenolic compounds, alcohols, quarternary compounds, mercurials, and mixtures of any of the foregoing.

7. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , which is diluted to a volume from about 50 ml to about 1000 ml with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier for injection such that the nimodipine is present in a concentration from about 0.01 mg/ml to about 1.0 mg/ml, and the organic solvent is less than 2% w/v of the formulation, the nimodipine being substantially present in the form of micelles, the diluted formulation remaining clear micellar solution and displaying no crystal precipitation of nimodipine.

8. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , wherein the median particle size of micelles containing nimodipine ranges from about 0.5 nanometer to about 350 nanometers.

9. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 7 , wherein the median particle size of micelles containing nimodipine ranges from about 0.5 nanometer to about 350 nanometers.

10. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , which is prepared by mixing the nimodipine base or a pharmaceutically acceptable nimodipine salt with the organic solvent; adding the hydrophilic surfactant to the mixture of nimodipine and organic solvent; and thereafter adding from about 0.5 ml to about 4 ml of a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous medium for injection to prepare a nimodipine concentrate formulation wherein nimodipine is contained in micelles.

11. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 7 , which has a pH from about 4.5 to about 8.

12. The nimodipine injection concentrate formulation of claim 1 , which is stable when exposed to conditions of 40° C.±2° C./75% RH±5% RH for at least 3 months; or which is stable when exposed to conditions of 25° C.±2° C./60% RH±5% RH for at least 12 months.

13. A directly infusible nimodipine formulation suitable for parenteral administration in humans, comprising from about 0.01 mg/ml to about 1.0 mg/ml nimodipine, a pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, dehydrated alcohol, benzyl alcohol, and a combination of benzyl alcohol and polypropylene glycol comprising less than 2% w/v of the formulation, a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier, and an effective amount of a hydrophilic surfactant which is polysorbate 80 and is from 0.01% to about 2.5% w/v of the formulation such that the nimodipine is substantially contained in micelles, the formulation comprising a volume from about 50 ml to about 1000 ml and contained in a pharmaceutically acceptable container, the formulation being a stable clear micellar solution and displaying no precipitation of nimodipine, wherein the directly infusible nimodipine formulation does not contain poloxamer, a phospholipid, glycerol, propylene glycol or an oil.

14. The directly infusible nimodipine formulation of claim 13 , wherein the median particle size of micelles containing nimodipine ranges from about 0.5 nanometer to about 350 nanometers.

15. The directly infusible nimodipine formulation of 13 , which is stable when exposed to conditions of 40° C.±2° C./75% RH±5% RH for at least 6 months; or which is stable when exposed to conditions of 25° C.±2° C./60% RH±5% RH for at least 12 months.