Patent ID: 8728441

Claim:
A method of administration of fentanyl to a mammal across the oral mucosa thereof to provide analgesia to said mammal, said method comprising: providing a solid oral dosage form comprising fentanyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount that is pharmaceutically effective for oral mucosal administration; at least one saliva activated effervescent couple comprising an acid selected from citric, tartaric, malic, fumaric, adipic and succinic acid, and a base selected from sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate, said saliva activated effervescent couple being present in an amount sufficient to increase absorption of said fentanyl or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof across said oral mucosa, and at least one pH adjusting substance, which is a base selected from sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate; wherein the amount of said at least one effervescent couple is between about 5% by weight and about 80% by weight; and buccally, sublingually or gingivally administering said solid oral dosage form to said mammal.