Compositions and methods for enhancing analgesic potency of tramadol and attenuating its adverse side effects

Abstract

The invention generally relates to compositions and methods with tramadol and an opioid antagonist to enhance analgesic potency and/or attenuate one or more adverse effects of tramadol, including adverse side effect(s) in humans such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, sedation (somnolence) or pruritis. This invention relates to compositions and methods for selectively enhancing the analgesic potency of tramadol and simultaneously attenuating anti-analgesia, hyperalgesia, hyperexcitability, physical dependence and/or tolerance effects associated with the administration of tramadol. The methods of the present invention comprise administering to a subject an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of excitatory opioid receptor antagonist such as naltrexone or nalmefene effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol and attenuate the anti-analgesia, hyperalgesia, hyperexcitability, physical dependence and/or tolerance effects of tramadol.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A method for enhancing the potency of tramadol in a human subject comprising administering to the human subject an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol.  
   
   
       25 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . A method for attenuating an adverse side effect associated with administration of tramadol to a human subject comprising administering to the human subject an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to attenuate the adverse side effect.  
   
   
       31 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . A method for enhancing the potency of tramadol and attenuating an adverse side effect associated with administration of tramadol to a human subject comprising administering to the human subject an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol and attenuate the adverse side effect.  
   
   
       38 - 43 . (canceled)  
   
   
       44 . A method for treating pain in a human subject comprising administering to the human subject an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol.  
   
   
       45 - 49 . (canceled)  
   
   
       50 . A method for treating pain with tramadol and attenuating an adverse side effect of tramadol in a human subject comprising administering to the human subject an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol and attenuate the adverse side effect.  
   
   
       51 - 56 . (canceled)  
   
   
       57 . A composition comprising an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol.  
   
   
       58 - 62 . (canceled)  
   
   
       63 . A composition comprising an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to attenuate an adverse side effect of tramadol.  
   
   
       64 - 69 . (canceled)  
   
   
       70 . A composition comprising an analgesic or subanalgesic amount of tramadol and an amount of an opioid antagonist effective to enhance the analgesic potency of tramadol and attenuate an adverse side effect of tramadol.  
   
   
       71 - 76 . (canceled)