Patent ID: 7452523
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
1. A method for treatment and suppression of cough, tussive attacks or tussive episodes by targeted administration of an inhalable local anesthetic to trachea, carina and bronchi of a subject in need thereof without need for concurrent administration of steroids or bronchodilators, said method comprising steps: a) preparing an inhalable solution consisting essentially of from about 10 to about 80 mg of a local anesthetic dissolved in from about 1 to about 5 ml of a normal or diluted saline without presence of surfactants, wherein said anesthetic is selected from the group consisting of proparacaine, cocaine, procaine, tetracaine, hexylcaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine, benoxinate, mepivacaine, prilocaine, mexiletene, vadocaine and etidocaine; b) selecting an electronic nebulizer equipped with a vibrating perforated membrane, said nebulizer having an output from about 0.48 ml/minute to about 0.60 ml/minute; c) nebulizing said inhalable solution of step a) with said nebulizer of step b) into an aerosol with the monodisperse particle spectrum wherein at least 70% of generated particles have sizes between about 4 μm and about 5 μm and the geometric standard deviation lower than 1.7; and d) administering said nebulized solution to a patient within about 1 to about 3 minutes for treatment of cough, tussive attacks or tussive episodes from one to ten times a day, wherein said administration of said nebulized solution results in suppression of cough, tussive attacks or tussive episodes without causing bronchospasm, oropharyngeal numbing, impairment or loss of gagging reflex, tracheal aspiration or systemic exposure.