Patent ID: RE41489

Claim:
A method of effectively treating pain in humans, comprising administering buprenorphine to human patients by applying a transdermal delivery system to the skin of said patient, and maintaining said transdermal delivery system in contact with said patient's skin for at least 5 7 days such that the following mean plasma concentrations are achieved over a 72 168 hour dosing interval: a mean plasma concentration from about 0.3 to about 113 pg/ml at about 6 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 3 to about 296 pg/ml at about 12 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 7 to about 644 pg/ml at about 24 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 13 to about 753 pg/ml at about 36 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 16 to about 984 pg/ml at about 48 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 20 to about 984 pg/ml at about 60 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 21 to about 1052 pg/ml at about 72 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; and thereafter administering the buprenorphine in a manner such that the mean plasma concentrations are maintained from about 19 to about 1052 pg/ml over at least the next 48 hours. a mean plasma concentration from about 23 to about 1052 pg/ml at about 96 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 23 to about 1052 pg/ml at about 120 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; a mean plasma concentration from about 22 to about 970 pg/ml at about 144 hours after initiation of the dosing interval; and a mean plasma concentration from about 19 to about 841 pg/ml at about 168 hours after initiation of the dosing interval.