Bee venom treatment without the sting

Abstract

Bee venom may be administered in a standardized formulation with or without relatively small amounts of anesthetic. In particular, the results of the combination of venom and anesthetic dramatically decreased pain and discomfort for patients undergoing apitherapy.

1 . A pharmaceutical compound comprising: 
 a therapeutically effective amount of bee venom; and    at least one anesthetic provided in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the irritation associated with the injection of said bee venom.    
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 1  wherein said anesthetic is provided in a ratio of between about 20:1-1:10 by weight relative to the weight of said bee venom.  
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 2  wherein said anesthetic is provided in a ratio of between about 10:1-1:5 by weight relative to the weight of said bee venom.  
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 3  wherein said anesthetic is provided in a ratio of between about 3:1-1:1 by weight relative to the weight of said bee venom.  
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical compound of claims  1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4  further comprising at least one excipient or liquid carrier.  
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 5  wherein said at least one excipient or liquid carrier are provided in an amount which is sufficient to provide between about 0.1 mg and about 10 mg of bee venom per mL.  
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 6  wherein said at least one excipient or liquid carrier are provided in an amount which is sufficient to provide between about 0.5 mg and about 5.0 mg of bee venom per mL.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 7  wherein said at least one excipient or liquid carrier are provided in an amount which is sufficient to provide about 1 mg of bee venom per mL.  
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 8  wherein said at least one anesthetic is a local anesthetic.  
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 9  wherein said local anesthetic is lidocaine.  
     
     
         11 . A standardized bee venom preparation suitable for administration by injection comprising: a liquid carrier and admixed therein between about 0.1 mg to about 10.0 mg by weight of bee venom per mL of said liquid carrier, said preparation being filtered though a 25 mcm filter.  
     
     
         12 . The standardized bee venom preparation of  claim 11  further comprising at least one anesthetic provided in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the irritation associated with the injection of said bee venom.