CPC A61K 31/485 (2013.01) [A61K 9/0019 (2013.01); A61K 31/4468 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
1. A method of treating pain comprising administering to a patient in need thereof
(i) an effective amount of hydromorphone during an administration period 1 at a mean input rate (in mg/h) of hydromorphone during said administration period 1, wherein said mean input rate of hydromorphone is expressed as the equimolar amount of hydromorphone free base administered during said administration period 1 divided by the duration of said administration period 1,
(ii) another effective amount of buprenorphine during an administration period 2 at a mean input rate (in mg/h) of buprenorphine during said administration period 2, wherein said mean input rate of buprenorphine is expressed as the equimolar amount of buprenorphine free base administered during said administration period 2 divided by the duration of said administration period 2,
wherein the administration period 1 and the administration period 2 overlap by at least 75%,
and wherein the ratio of said mean input rate of buprenorphine to said mean input rate of hydromorphone is from about 1:200 to about 1:8000;
wherein hydromorphone is formulated in a composition for intravenous infusion for treating pain, and buprenorphine is formulated in a transdermal patch or in a composition for intravenous infusion for treating pain;
wherein analgesia produced by the hydromorphone to the patient is not impacted by the buprenorphine.
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