Abstract:
An organizational treatment device and method for the treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease comprising both controller and rescue medications such that the need for rescue medication and consequent need for controller medication can be more certainly determined than at present.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/389,945 filed Jun. 19, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to devices and methods of treating respiratory tract disorders. Particularly, the present invention relates to the treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease. More particularly, the present invention relates to the treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease with topical controller medications and topical rescue medications as a regimen where the dosage of one medication is a determinant for the need for the other medication in a particular individual.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Obstructive lung diseases are diseases that are characterized by narrowing and inflammation of the bronchial air flow tract. Asthma is an example of an obstructive respiratory tract disorder. Symptoms consist of coughing, excessive sputum productions, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms typically vary in severity over time and, of the obstructive respiratory disorders, changes in severity are most prominent and rapidly occurring with asthma.  
           [0006]    Obstructive lung diseases are generally chronic and require long-term treatment. One approach to treatment is directed at preventing symptoms. Medications used for this purpose are referred to as “preventative” or “controller” therapy. In the event that symptoms flare despite the use of controller therapy, it becomes necessary to utilize medication to bring about immediate relief. Medications used for this purpose are often referred to as “rescue” medications.  
           [0007]    Adrenergic agonists are commonly used to reverse bronchial tree spasm occurring with obstructive pulmonary disorders. Both long-acting and short-acting forms are available. Long-acting forms are often employed when such agents are used to prevent symptoms. An example of a long-acting agent is the selective beta2-adrenergic bronchodilator known as salmeterol xinafoate and marketed under the trademark Serevent®. It is used both as an inhaled dry powder aerosol and as an aerosolizable liquid in a metered dose inhaler.  
           [0008]    In the event of a breakthrough of symptoms, it is preferable not to use additional doses of long-acting adrenergic agents for concern of accumulation of medication. Adrenergic agents have adrenalin-like effects such as nervousness and rapid heart beat. Accumulation or overdose of such medication can have potentially dangerous consequences such as irregularities of the heart rhythm. An adrenergic agent with an immediate effect and short duration of action is therefore preferred for relief of acute symptomatic breakthrough. An example of such an adrenergic agent is albuterol USP, which is an aerosolizable liquid in a metered dose inhaler marketed under the trademark Ventolin®.  
           [0009]    Corticosteroids are another type of medication that can be used as controller medication. Corticosteroids do not have immediate effects on symptoms, but rather reduce inflammation over a longer term. Examples of aerosolized forms of such agents are fluticasone propionate that is marketed as an inhaled powder aerosol under the trademark Flovent®, and beclomethasone dipropionate USP, which is marketed under the trademark Beclovent®, an MDI. The administration of such medications by aerosol allows them to be directed topically to the site of inflammation within the bronchial tree and has the advantage of minimizing systemic effects that are more likely to occur with oral or other systemic administration. Even administered topically, however, some systemic absorption (hypercorticism) and adrenal suppression may occur, particularly at higher doses. Because these medications are often required over long periods, they pose cumulative risks. In children, growth suppression is of particular concern and, in adults, reduction in bone density is a problem. Such agents are best employed judiciously for therapeutic benefit while avoiding overuse and side-effects.  
           [0010]    Many drugs are utilized by patients over a period of time in varying amounts and in varying order to provide for their effective administration. Packaging has been developed for aiding the user of such drugs to comply with the proper administration over the proper time period. The dispensing apparatus associated with such multiple-day administrative drugs are typically directed to the administration of pills or capsules, or similar solid medication.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,039,080, for example, discloses a tray having individual compartments for pills that may contain a week&#39;s medication with indicia indicating the day of the week and time of the day the medication is to be taken.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,670 discloses another device comprising a support on which are located two different ingestible medicinal substances in a single dose form with an adjacent portion for instructional information.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,819 discloses a covered pill tray of rectangular configuration having an array of open-topped compartments to hold a supply of medication arranged by the day and time of taking the medication.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,849 discloses a method and another type of dispenser for the storage and dispensing of calendar-oriented pills.  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,189 discloses a device for storage and time-regulated dispensing of drugs which includes a drug container to which is secured a signal generator.  
           [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,841 discloses a sleep therapy package which includes an audio recording of program material for inducing sleep, a card having a plurality of doses, some of which are medicine for inducing sleep and at least one of which is a placebo, along with patient instructions.  
           [0017]    Cartonless packaging systems for containing liquids used, for example, as ophthalmic products, which also contain means for storing tablets and instructional material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,489,026 and 5,489,027.  
           [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,490 discloses a device and method for a lay person to organize topical medications together with oral medications.  
           [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,241 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,205 disclose a device and method for a lay person to organize combined topical medication regimens.  
           [0020]    What is not specifically described in the aforementioned inventions is the provision of topical controller medications and topical rescue medications for the treatment of obstructive pulmonary diseases and their instruction as a regimen where the dosage of one medication is a determinant for the need for the other medication in a particular individual. Controller and rescue medications for obstructive lung disorders are presently provided separately to patients. This introduces the potential for users: (a) not having one or the other medication due to its not being prescribed or being overlooked, (b) overusing one of the agents if the other is unavailable, (c) being confused in identifying the agents, and/or, (d) being unsure of how to coordinate the medications together. This also introduces the potential for caregiver confusion in assessing the relative use of the individually prescribed and filled medications or even knowing with certainty if one is being filled by the patient and not the other.  
           [0021]    Therefore, what is needed is treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of having only one of the controller or rescue medications. What is also needed is a treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of overuse of one of the medications by the patient. What is further needed is a treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of a patient confusing one medication for the other. What is still further needed is a treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of confusion over the coordination of treatment medications together as a regimen.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0022]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a treatment kit for treating an obstructive respiratory tract disorder that reduces the likelihood of a patient having only one of the controller or rescue medications. It is another object of the present invention to provide a treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of a patient overusing one of the medications. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of a patient confusing the controller medication with the rescue medication. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a treatment kit that reduces the likelihood of patient confusion of the proper coordination of the controller and rescue agents as a regimen of interdependent medications. It is a further object of the present invention to increase the certainty of caregivers knowing that the patient has been provided with both controller and rescue agents. It is yet another object of the present invention to enhance the caregiver&#39;s ease of determining the use of rescue agent relative to controller agent, such information being useful for adjusting controller agent dosing.  
           [0023]    The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a unifying dispensing container for therapeutic agents for the treatment of respiratory disorders, which incorporates both controller and rescue medications. The unifying container additionally includes indicia for distinguishing these controller and rescue agents and instructions for their use together as a therapeutic regimen. Two essential aspects of the instructions of the present invention are to direct the user to use rescue medication for breakthrough symptoms and also to alert the user to over-utilization and/or over-reliance upon rescue medication. The inclusion of both controller and rescue medication in the prepackaged, unified dispensing container of the present invention results in certainty that the user has both medications when the package is procured.  
           [0024]    The severity of symptoms of bronchospastic disease such as asthma is known to vary between affected individuals and also to vary with time in a single individual. Caregivers are therefore required to estimate treatments in accord with the general severity of symptoms and also variability of symptoms in a particular individual, and to attempt to prescribe the optimal amount of controller medication for prevention, neither more nor less than what is needed. One parameter for making this assessment is need for rescue medication. When controller and rescue medications are separately purchased, it becomes difficult for a caregiver to keep track of rescue medication use. This would be improved if both were obligatorily purchased at the same time. In this case, the inclusion of both controller and rescue medications in a single package would serve as a yardstick for medication utilization and need. As a convention, controller medications such as Advair® and Severent® are presently packaged in inhalers that provide actuations sufficient for one month of use. The common rescue medication, Ventolin Inhalation Aerosol® is packaged in canisters that contain either 80 or 200 actuations. If both controller and rescue medications were supplied once per month in the single prepackaged format of the present invention, a caregiver would have a starting point each month for estimating rescue-to-controller medication use and therefore preventing rescue overuse and anticipating controller medication need. Furthermore, simple examination of the medication canisters or remaining tablets of the package would also allow an estimation of relative use.  
           [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention would also incorporate a device to monitor the use of the rescue medication. The rescue medication actuation monitor or counter would provide a numerically objective parameter that could be used to adjust the selection and dosing of controller medication. An example of a device to keep track of aerosol actuations is available under the trademark THE DOSER™ manufactured by MEDITRACK Products of Hudson, Mass. It is to be understood that the actuation monitor/counter may be separate from the rescue medication aerosol delivery device and adapted to be used with it, or may be an integral part of the rescue medication inhaler device. Further, it is to be understood that controller medication may be given in topical, aerosolized form or oral systemic form, and that rescue medication is delivered topically to the bronchial tree by aerosolization. The word “aerosolization” encompasses its ordinary dictionary meaning of providing a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in air or gas. Likewise, the word “regimen” is intended to convey its ordinary dictionary meaning of a regulated system or procedure intended to maintain health. For the present invention, the regimen is an ongoing course of treatment that incorporates both interdependent controller and rescue medicines where the dosage of one medication is a determinant of the need for the other medication in a particular individual.  
           [0026]    Treatments which necessitate a multiplicity of components pose a number of problems for patients. Such multiple medication treatments may be a source of confusion and frustration which can result in medication error or lack of compliance. The multiplicity of components may lack coordinating indicia and instructions for verifying the multiple component use together. Patients may lose track of which medication is which. Individual components may be lost, misplaced, or ignored, particularly so with instructions issued separately from the medication. Furthermore, in spite of careful oral and written instruction from the health care provider, many patients are known to use what they have conveniently available. Haphazard applications, in the case of obstructive lung disease, can not only result in poor symptom control, but overuse of controller medication and undesirable side effects can be the result of failure to optimize treatment. The devices and methods of the present invention would help overcome these noted problems.  
           [0027]    The device of the present invention allows a caregiver greater certainty as to the patient&#39;s use of rescue medication in relation to controller medication, and at least the knowledge that the patient is not using rescue medication in excess of controller medication in that they are concomitantly dispensed. Frequent need for the user to resort to rescue medication would indicate the need for a greater dosage of controller medication. Conversely, negligible need for rescue medication serves as a signal that controller medication dosage might be lowered. It is of particular importance to avoid unnecessary long-term side effects of corticosteroids. The packaging together of controller and rescue medications according to the present invention would provide a point of departure for a user to assess rescue medication use and is an improvement over these medications being separately procured. Both the current rescue medication and current controller medication of the package could then be inspected by either caregiver or patient to roughly gauge unused medication and use of rescue medication relative to controller medication. The addition of a rescue medication actuation counter, if desired, would provide a yet more precise record of rescue inhalations. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    The preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 . FIG. 1 illustrates a support package  10  that houses first and second topical controller medications  20 ,  22  in multi-dosage aerosol units and a topical rescue medication  26  also in multi-dosage aerosol units. Identifying indicia  30  is included with each respective medication. An instruction bearing portion  40  provides instructions for use of the controller medications  20 ,  22  and rescue medication  26  as a regimen.  
         [0033]    Support package  10  includes a bottom portion  12  and a top portion  14 . Bottom portion  12  has a clasp portion  16 , and top portion  14  has a clasp portion  18 . Clasp portion  16  and clasp portion  18  can be secured together when package  10  is folded along fold  60 .  
         [0034]    An example of such a treatment kit that may be suitable for an adult with moderately severe asthma is exemplified by Example 1, which contains two individual topical controller medications and a topical rescue medication where first controller medication  20  is Controller Medication #1 and second controller medication  22  is Controller Medication #2.  
                       EXAMPLE 1                       Controller   Controller           Medication #1   Medication #2   Rescue Medication                   Serevent ® Inhalation   Flovent ® 110 mcg   Ventolin ® Inhalation       Aerosol   Inhalation Aerosol   Aerosol       2 sprays twice-daily   2 sprays twice-daily   2 sprays every 4-6 hours       (each actuation       not to exceed 8 sprays       delivering 25 mcg of       per 24 hours (each       salmeterol base)       actuation delivering 100               mcg albuterol, USP)                  
 
         [0035]    The controller medication #1 is Serevent® (salmeterol xinafoate) Inhalation Aerosol which is indicated for long-term maintenance of bronchodilitation in patients 12 years of age and older. The usual dosage is two inhalations twice daily, morning and evening at approximately 12 hour intervals. Its FDA approved dosing recommendation states that “adverse effects are more likely to occur with higher doses and more frequent administration or administration of a larger number of inhalations is not recommended.” The controller medication #2 contains a corticosteroid, fluticasone propionate, and is provided by the manufacturer in 44 mcg, 110 mcg and 220 mcg strengths under the trademark Flovent®. The rescue medication contains albuterol USP and is available under the trademark Ventolin®. The present invention provides a method for helping to select the concentration and to optimize dosing of the controller medication #2. Infrequent need for the rescue medication  26  would provide an objective parameter for lowering controller medication by reducing the number of controller medication #2 inhalations and/or concentration. Conversely, frequent rescue medication use indicates continued and increased need for controller medication #2 either by increased inhalations and/or strength to control symptoms. FIG. 1 is in schematic conformation with this regimen.  
         [0036]    Turning now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a support package  10  that houses first and second topical controller medications  20 ,  22  in multi-dosage aerosol units and a topical rescue medication  26  also in multi-dosage aerosol units. Identifying indicia  30  is provided aligned with each respective medication. An instruction bearing portion  40  provides instructions for use of the controller medications  20 ,  22  and rescue medication  26  as a regimen. An actuation counter  50  is provided that can be placed on a counter receiving portion  27  of rescue medication  26 .  
         [0037]    Support package  10  includes a bottom portion  12  and a top portion  14 . Bottom portion  12  has a clasp portion  16 , and top portion  14  has a clasp portion  18 . Clasp portion  16  and clasp portion  18  can be secured together when package  10  is folded along fold  60 .  
         [0038]    The medication regimens of FIG. 2 are the same as those provided in FIG. 1.  
         [0039]    Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment also includes a support package  10  having a bottom portion  12  and a top portion  14  with clasp portions  16 ,  18 , respectively. Support package  10  houses a first topical controller medication  20  in a multi-dosage aerosol unit, a second oral controller medication  23  for systemic dosing, and a topical rescue medication  26  also in multi-dosage aerosol units. Oral controller medication is depicted in the form of tablets on a blistered card. However, other oral dosage forms such as capsules, caplets, liquids, and other containers such as bottles as are known in the art may be used in the present invention. Identifying indicia  30  is illustrated aligned with each respective medication. Indicia to distinguish each medication within the unifying container of the present invention might alternatively or additionally be on the surface of the inhalers, blister cards, or bottles of the medications themselves, or other printed surface within the container rather than on the surface of the unifying container as illustrated. An instruction bearing portion  40  provides instructions for use of the controller medications  20 ,  23  and rescue medication  26  as a treatment regime. An actuation counter  50  is provided that can be placed on a counter receiving portion  27  of rescue medication  26 .  
         [0040]    The following Example 2 includes one topical controller medication  20 , one oral controller medication  23  and a topical rescue medication  26 .  
                       EXAMPLE 2                       Controller   Controller           Medication #1   Medication #2   Rescue Medication                   Flovent ® 44 mcg   Singulair ® Tablets   Ventolin ® Inhalation       Inhalation Aerosol   (10 mg montelukast   Aerosol           sodium)       2 sprays twice-daily   1 tablet at bedtime   2 sprays every 4-6 hours               not to exceed 8 sprays               per 24 hours (each               actuation delivering 100               mcg albuterol, USP)                  
 
         [0041]    The regimen in Example 2 differs from the regimen in Example 1 by employing an oral controller medication  23 , which is montelukast sodium and available under the trademark Singulair®, and exemplifying a lower dose of the inhaled corticosteroid controller medication  20  available under the trademark Flovent®. Singulair® is a selective leukotriene receptor antagonist and represents a unique class of controller medication that may allow for lower dosing and use of corticosteroid medications. The approved dosage for Singulair® montelukast sodium for the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma is a fixed dosage of 10 mg in adolescents and adults 15 years of age and older, 5 mg for ages 6 to 14, and 4 mg for ages 2 to 5. This fixed dose is recommended to be taken once a day in the evening. As stated in Example 2, the need for Ventolin®, the rescue medication  26 , can be assessed according to the actuation counter  50  provides an objective parameter for dosing of the controller medication Flovent®. FIG. 3 is in schematic conformation with this regimen.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes a support package  100  having a bottom portion  112  and a top portion  114  with clasp portions  116 ,  118 , respectively. Support package  100  houses a first topical controller medication  120  in a multi-dosage, dry powder aerosol unit and a topical rescue medication  126  in a multi-dosage, liquid medication aerosol unit that incorporates an actuation counting monitor  150 . Identifying indicia  130  is provided aligned with each respective medication. An instruction bearing portion  140  provides instructions for use of the controller medication  120  and rescue medication  126  as a treatment regime.  
         [0043]    The following Example 3 includes one topical controller medication  120  and a topical rescue medication  126 .  
                           EXAMPLE 3                                   Controller               Medication   Rescue Medication                           Advair ™ Discus ®     Ventolin ® Inhalation           250/50   Aerosol           1 inhalation twice-   2 sprays every 4-6 hours           daily   not to exceed 8 sprays per               24 hours (each actuation               delivering 100 mcg               albuterol, USP)                      
 
         [0044]    The regimen in Example 3 differs from the regimen in Example 1 by employing a single controller medication  120  containing a beta-adrenergic agent and a corticosteroid in fixed relationship. Controller medication  120  is available under the trademark Advair Diskus® 250/50 and is delivered as an aerosolized powder, each inhalation containing fluticasone propionate (250 mcg) and salmeterol xinafoate (50 mcg). Advair Diskus® is recommended for regular one inhalation, twice-a-day dosing. Adjustment in dose can be made by selecting from three available strengths of Advair™ containing 100, 250 and 500 mcg of fluticasone per inhalation. All contain the same dosage of salmeterol xinafoate, which if given at higher dose is known to have a risk of adrenergic stimulatory side effects. The actuation counter  150  on rescue medication  126  records the number of times the user employs the rescue medication, Ventolin®. Actuation counter  150  provides an objective parameter for selection of the appropriate strength of Advair™. FIG. 4 is in schematic conformation with the regimen of Example 3.  
         [0045]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above descriptions are merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.