Patent ID: 7504231

Claim:
A method for alleviating chronic pain in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: administering an effective amount of at least one inhibitor of neurotransmitter synthesis to a subject suffering from chronic pain at a peripheral nervous system inflammation site, wherein the at least one inhibitor of neurotransmitter synthesis is selected from the group consisting of an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase enzyme activity, an inhibitor of glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme activity, an inhibitor of pyruvate carboxylase enzyme activity, a glutamine cycle inhibitor, a glial cell tricarboxylic acid cycle inhibitor, and combinations thereof; and wherein the administration of the effective amount of at least one inhibitor of neurotransmitter synthesis results in inhibition in synthesis of at least one neurotransmitter in the peripheral nervous system of the subject at the peripheral nervous system inflammation site, thereby resulting in a reduction in glutamate stimulation of peripheral sensory nerve fibers, whereby a reduction in nociceptive responses at the peripheral nervous system inflammation site is observed without any resulting acute pain behavior.