Patent ID: 6593370
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: A61K,A61P,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of relieving pain or itching in a patient having a cutaneous disorder or neural dysfunction that involves pain or itching comprising:applying to a painful or pruritic site of the skin of said patient a topical composition comprising, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for topical application, an amount of about 0.025 % to about 2 % by weight, based on the total weight of the topical composition, of capsaicin wherein capsaicin is essentially the sole active agent which acts on the nervous system, and an amount of about 9 % to about 20 % by weight, based on the total weight of the topical composition, of a nonionic, amphoteric or cationic surfactant, effective to eliminate or substantially ameliorate the initial burning and/or stinging pain otherwise induced by capsaicin, wherein the surfactant is a polyoxyethylene castor oil, a polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, a polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, a polyoxyethylenesorbitol fatty acid ester, a betaine derivative, cetyltrimethylammonium, chloride or any mixture thereof.