Patent ID: 6214387
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A61K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for prolonged nerve blockade, local numbness, or pain relief at a site in a patient comprisingadministering at the site a multiparticulate unit dose of a local anesthetic selected from the group consisting of bupivacaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, xylocaine and salts thereof incorporated into particles of a biocompatible, biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of lactic acid, glycolic acid, and copolymers thereof, the particles being selected from the group consisting of microparticles, microspheres, and microcapsules, wherein the local anesthetic is included in the unit dose in an amount effective to achieve nerve blockade, local numbness, or pain relief at the site and is incorporated into the particles in a percent loading of between 5 and 90% by weight, and an amount of a glucocorticoid effective to prolong the nerve blockade or pain relief provided by the local anesthetic for a time period greater than that obtained by the use of the local anesthetic incorporated in the polymer in the absence of the glucocorticoid.