Local prevention or amelioration of pain from surgically closed wounds

Abstract

A non-invasive and non-systemic method for intradermal prevention OR amelioration of pain from a surgically closed wound is disclosed. The method comprises topical delivery of a local anesthetic to an exterior surface of a surgically closed wound.

1 . A method of preventing or ameliorating pain from a surgically closed wound in a subject comprising applying a pharmaceutically acceptable topical drug formulation comprising a therapeutically effective dose of a local anesthetic or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof on or adjacent to an exterior surface of the wound.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wound resulted from a surgical procedure.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of laparoscopy, hemiaplasty, breast biopsy, and excision of subcutaneous tumors.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the surgical procedure is selected from the group consisting of hemiaplasty and laparoscopy.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local anesthetic is selected from the group consisting of lidocaine, tetracaine, bupivacaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine, procaine, chloroprocaine, ropivacaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, and benzocaine or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local anesthetic is lidocaine.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable topical drug formulation contains at least two local anesthetics.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the local anesthetics are lidocaine and prilocaine.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the local anesthetics are lidocaine and tetracaine.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phamnaceutically acceptable topical drug formulation does not comprise a penetration enhancer.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable topical drug formulation further comprises an agent effective to prolong the duration of a local anesthetic effect.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable topical drug formulation is covered with a dressing after the application step.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable topical drug formulation is contained in a patch.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patch is a type selected from the group consisting of monolithic drug-in-adhesive, multi-laminate drug-in-adhesive, matrix, and reservoir.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patch is a drug-in-adhesive type patch.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patch is a monolithic drug-in-adhesive type patch.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patch comprises a backing and an adhesive containing the anesthetic.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patch is a matrix type patch.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the patch comprises an anesthetic containing matrix and an adhesive backing film overlay.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anesthetic comprises about 10 percent to about 30 percent of a weight of the patch.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anesthetic comprises about 15 percent to about 25 percent of a weight of the patch.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anesthetic comprises about 18 percent to about 22 percent of a weight of the patch.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patch is applied about every 18 hours to about every 48 hours after a surgical procedure.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patch is applied daily after a surgical procedure.  
     
     
         25 . A patch comprising a local anesthetic in an amount therapeutically effective to prevent or ameliorate pain from a surgically closed wound in a mammal suffering from the pain packaged in association with instructions, the instructions comprising: applying the patch to the surgically closed wound.