Medicinal delivery system and related methods

Abstract

A method is provided of making a medicinal delivery system which satiates a craving in an individual when the medicinal delivery system is administered orally to the individual. A coating composition is applied on a saliva-soluble powder to establish a coated powder, the coating composition featuring an at least partially solubilized craving satiation medicinal compound. The coated powder is combined with an edible carrier base to establish a medicinal delivery system that rapidly releases medicine and buffer preferably followed by slower, sustained release.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a medicinal delivery system that delivers medicine which satiates a craving in an individual in need of craving relief when the medicinal delivery system is administered orally to the individual, comprising:
 applying a coating composition on a saliva-soluble powder to establish a coated powder, the coating composition comprising an at least partially solubilized craving-satiation medicinal compound; and   combining the coated powder with a buffer and an edible carrier base to establish a medicinal delivery system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least partially dissolving the craving satiation medicinal compound in a solvent to at least partially solubilize the craving-satiation medicinal compound and prepare the coating composition, wherein the solvent comprises a bulk sweetener solution.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least partially dissolving the craving satiation medicinal compound in a solvent to at least partially solubilize the craving-satiation medicinal compound and prepare the coating composition, wherein the solvent comprises a sorbitol solution.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least partially dissolving the craving-satiation medicinal compound in a solvent to at least partially solubilize the craving-satiation medicinal compound and prepare the coating composition, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol and ethanol solution.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saliva-soluble powder comprises a bulk sweetener. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saliva-soluble powder comprises a bulk sweetener selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, isomalt, maltitol, and lactitol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saliva-soluble powder comprises sorbitol powder. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier base comprises chewing gum. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier base comprises a lozenge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medicinal delivery system provides for at least about 45% release of the craving-satiation medicinal compound within 5 minutes of the onset of ingestion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medicinal delivery system provides for at least about 50% release of the craving-satiation medicinal compound within 5 minutes of the onset of ingestion. 
     
     
         12 . A method of satiating a craving in an individual, comprising:
 administering a medicinal delivery system made according to the method of  claim 1  to an individual in need of craving-satiation when a craving is experienced.   
     
     
         13 . A medicinal delivery system, comprising a buffer, an edible carrier base, and a saliva-soluble powder coated with a craving-satiation medicinal compound. 
     
     
         14 . The medicinal delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the craving-satiation medicinal compound comprises a nicotine compound. 
     
     
         15 . The medicinal delivery system of  claim 13 , where the carrier base comprises chewing gum. 
     
     
         16 . The medicinal delivery system of  claim 13 , wherein the carrier base comprises a lozenge. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making a nicotine-satiation delivery system which satiates a smoking craving in an individual practicing smoking abstinence when the delivery system is administered orally to and masticated by the individual, comprising:
 applying a coating composition on a saliva-soluble powder to establish a coated powder, the coating composition comprising an at least partially solubilized nicotine compound; and   combining the coated powder with a buffer and an edible carrier base to establish a nicotine-satiation delivery system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at least partially dissolving the nicotine compound in a solvent to at least partially solubilize the nicotine compound and prepare the coating composition, wherein the solvent comprises a sorbitol solution.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the saliva-soluble powder comprises sorbitol powder. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier base comprises chewing gum. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the carrier base comprises a lozenge. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the nicotine-satiation delivery system provides for at least about 45% release of the nicotine compound within 5 minutes of the onset of mastication. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the nicotine-satiation delivery system provides for at least about 50% release of the nicotine compound within 5 minutes of the onset of mastication. 
     
     
         24 . A method of satiating a smoking craving in an individual, comprising:
 administering a medicinal delivery system made according to the method of  claim 17  to an individual in need of a smoking-craving satiation.