Method of Providing Sustained Analgesia With Buprenorphine

Abstract

A method of effectively treating pain in humans is achieved by administering buprenorphine in accordance with first order kinetics over an initial three-day dosing interval, such that a maximum plasma concentration from about 20 pg/ml to about 1052 pg/ml is attained, and thereafter maintaining the administration of buprenorphine for at least an additional two-day dosing interval in accordance with substantially zero order kinetics, such that the patients experience analgesia throughout the at least two-day additional dosing interval.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of treating pain in humans, comprising administering buprenorphine to human patients by applying a transdermal delivery system to the skin of said patient, and maintaining said transdermal delivery system in contact with said patient's skin for 168 hours;
 wherein said transdermal delivery system comprises an adhesive matrix layer comprising 10% buprenorphine, 10 to 15% levulinic acid, about 10% oleyl oleate, 55 to 70% polyacrylate and 0 to 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the transdermal delivery system provides a nominal delivery rate of 12.5 μg/hr; the total amount of buprenorphine contained in the transdermal delivery system is about 5 mg; and the active surface area of the transdermal delivery system is about 6.25 cm 2 . 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the transdermal delivery system provides a nominal delivery rate of 25 μg/hr; the total amount of buprenorphine contained in the transdermal delivery system is about 10 mg; and the active surface area of the transdermal delivery system is about 12.5 cm 2 . 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the transdermal delivery system provides a nominal delivery rate of 50 μg/hr; the total amount of buprenorphine contained in the transdermal delivery system is about 20 mg; and the active surface area of the transdermal delivery system is about 25 cm 2 . 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the transdermal delivery system provides a nominal delivery rate of 75 μg/hr; the total amount of buprenorphine contained in the transdermal delivery system is about 30 mg; and the active surface area of the transdermal delivery system is about 37.5 cm 2 . 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the transdermal delivery system provides a nominal delivery rate of 100 μg/hr; the total amount of buprenorphine contained in the transdermal delivery system is about 40 mg; and the active surface area of the transdermal delivery system is about 50 cm 2 . 
     
     
         74 . A method of treating pain in humans, comprising administering buprenorphine to human patients by applying a transdermal delivery system to the skin of said patient, and maintaining said transdermal delivery system in contact with said patient's skin for 168 hours;
 wherein said transdermal delivery system comprises an adhesive matrix layer comprising 10% buprenorphine, 10 to 15% levulinic acid, about 10% oleyl oleate, 55 to 70% polyacrylate and 0 to 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone; and   wherein the transdermal delivery system provides a nominal delivery rate of 12.5 μg/hr to 100 μg/hr; and the total amount of buprenorphine contained in the transdermal delivery system is about 5 mg to about 40 mg.