Topical anti-pruritic compositions and methods of action of same

Abstract

Topical anti-pruritic compositions and methods of using the same to treat pruritus. These anti-pruritic compositions are capable of temporarily or permanently reducing, inhibiting, treating, ameliorating, and/or preventing pruritic skin conditions, as well as other related skin conditions. In a particular aspect, the present formulations provide a quicker and more effective treatment of pruritus than do certain present pruritus-treating compositions.

1 . A method for treating pruritus in a patient comprising administering to a patient suffering from pruritus a first topical composition comprising at least one anti-pruritic agent and at least one occlusive skin conditioning agent, wherein the administration of said first composition provides a more effective treatment of said pruritus in comparison to treatment of pruritus achieved by administration of a second topical composition comprising a corticosteroid.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said anti-pruritic agent is selected from the group consisting of pramoxine, pramocaine, proxazocain, 4-(3-(p-butoxyphenoxy)propyl)morpholine, gamma-morpholinopropyl 4-n-butoxyphenyl ether, p-butoxyphenyl gamma-morpholinopropyl ether, 4-[3-(4-butoxyphenoxy)-propyl]morpholine, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said occlusive skin conditioning agent is petrolatum.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first topical composition further comprises an organosiloxane.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first topical composition further comprises an emollient.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said corticosteroid is hydrocortisone.  
   
   
       7 . A method for treating pruritus in a patient comprising administering to a patient suffering from pruritus a first topical composition comprising at least one anti-pruritic agent and at least one emollient, wherein the administration of said first composition provides a more effective treatment of said pruritus in comparison to treatment of pruritus achieved by administration of a second topical composition comprising a corticosteroid.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said anti-pruritic agent is selected from the group consisting of pramoxine, pramocaine, proxazocain, 4-(3-(p-butoxyphenoxy)propyl)morpholine, gamma-morpholinopropyl 4-n-butoxyphenyl ether, p-butoxyphenyl gamma-morpholinopropyl ether, 4-[3-(4-butoxyphenoxy)-propyl]morpholine, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said emollient is a composition having the following structural formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R 1  can be a C 7 -C 20  straight or branched alkane, C 7 -C 20  straight or branched alkene, C 7 -C 20  straight or branched alkyne, C 7 -C 20  straight or branched alkanol, C 7 -C 20  straight or branched alkenol, C 7 -C 20  straight or branched alkynol, C 7 -C 20  straight or branched ester, and C 7 -C 20  straight or branched ether; and  
     wherein R 2  can be a C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkane, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkanol, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched ether, C 3 -C 8  cyclic hydrocarbon optionally substituted with at least one R 3 , C 3 -C 8  aromatic hydrocarbon optionally substituted with at lest one R 3 , and C 3 -C 8  aryl optionally substituted with at least one R 3 ;  
     wherein R 3  can be a C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkane, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkene, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkyne, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkanol, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkenol, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched alkynol, C 1 -C 8  straight or branched ester, and C 1 -C 8  straight or branched ether.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said first topical composition further comprises an organosiloxane.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said first topical composition further comprises an occlusive skin conditioning agent.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said corticosteroid is hydrocortisone.  
   
   
       13 . A method of treating a patient suffering from pruritus comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a topical anti-pruritic composition comprising: 
 (i) a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-pruritic agent;    (ii) about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of an occlusive skin conditioning agent;    (iii) about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of an organosiloxane; and    (iv) an aqueous solvent,    wherein said topical anti-pruritic composition begins reducing symptoms of pruritus exhibited by said patient within about 30 minutes.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said topical anti-pruritic composition begins reducing symptoms of pruritus exhibited by said patient within about 15 minutes  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said topical anti-pruritic composition begins reducing symptoms of pruritus exhibited by said patient within about 2 minutes.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said topical anti-pruritic composition alleviates said pruritus within about 4 hours.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said topical anti-pruritic composition alleviates said pruritus within about 1 hour.  
   
   
       18 . A topical anti-pruritic composition comprising: 
 (i) a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-pruritic agent;    (ii) about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of an occlusive skin conditioning agent;    (iii) about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of an organosiloxane; and    (iv) an aqueous solvent.    
   
   
       19 . The topical anti-pruritic composition of  claim 18 , wherein said anti-pruritic agent is selected from the group consisting of pramoxine, pramocaine, proxazocain, 4-(3-(p-butoxyphenoxy)propyl)morpholine, gamma-morpholinopropyl 4-n-butoxyphenyl ether, p-butoxyphenyl gamma-morpholinopropyl ether, 4-[3-(4-butoxyphenoxy)-propyl]morpholine, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The topical anti-pruritic composition of  claim 18 , wherein said occlusive skin conditioning agent is petrolatum.  
   
   
       21 . The topical anti-pruritic composition of  claim 18 , wherein said organosiloxane has a viscosity of less than 500 centistokes.  
   
   
       22 . The topical anti-pruritic composition of  claim 18 , wherein said organosiloxane is dimethicone.  
   
   
       23 . The topical anti-pruritic composition of  claim 18 , wherein said aqueous solvent is between about 60 and about 90 percent by weight.