Injectable capsaicin

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for relieving pain at a site in a human or animal in need thereof by administering at a discrete site in a human or animal in need thereof a dose of capsaicin in an amount effective to denervate a discrete site without eliciting an effect outside the discrete location, the dose of capsaicin ranging from 1 μg to 3000 μg.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 : An injectable or implantable pharmaceutical composition for attenuating pain at a site in a human or animal in need thereof, consisting essentially of a capsaicinoid selected from the group consisting of from 1 μg to 5000 μg of capsaicin, a therapeutically equivalent amount of one or more other capsaicinoids, and combinations thereof; in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for injection or implantation. 
     
     
         54 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 54 , wherein said capsaicinoid comprises from about 300 μg to 1500 μg capsaicin. 
     
     
         55 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 54 , wherein said capsaicinoid comprises from about 400 μg to 1200 μg capsaicin. 
     
     
         56 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 54 , wherein said capsaicinoid comprises from about 300 μg to 1500 μg trans-capsaicin. 
     
     
         57 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 54 , wherein the capsaicinoid is at least about 97% trans-capsaicin. 
     
     
         58 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 53 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle is an aqueous vehicle is selected from the group consisting of Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringers Injection, Isotonic Dextrose Injection, Sterile Water Injection, Dextrose, Lactated Ringers Injection and any combinations or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 53 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle comprises an agent selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial agents, isotonic agents, buffers, antioxidants, local anesthetics, suspending and dispersing agents, emulsifying agents, sequestering, chelating agents and any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 53 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle comprises effective concentrations of polyethylene glycol, histidine and sucrose, in water for injection. 
     
     
         61 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 60 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle comprises about 20% PEG 300, about 10 mM histidine and about 5% sucrose in water for injection. 
     
     
         62 . An injectable or implantable pharmaceutical composition for attenuating pain at a site in a human or animal in need thereof, consisting essentially of from 1 μg to 5000 μg of trans-capsaicin and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for injection or implantation. 
     
     
         63 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 62 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle comprises effective concentrations of polyethylene glycol, histidine and sucrose, in water for injection. 
     
     
         64 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 62 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle comprises about 20% PEG 300, about 10 mM histidine and about 5% sucrose in water for injection. 
     
     
         65 . The composition of  claim 62 , wherein said trans-capsaicin is present in an amount from about 300 to about 1500 μg. 
     
     
         66 . The composition of  claim 62 , wherein said trans-capsaicin is present in an amount from about 400 to about 1200 μg.