Devices and methods for pain management

Abstract

The invention features devices and methods for the systemic delivery of fentanyl or a fentanyl congener (e.g., sufentanil) to treat pain. In the present invention, a drug formulation comprising fentanyl or a fentanyl congener is stored within a drug delivery device (e.g., contained in a reservoir or impregnated within a matrix within the controlled drug delivery device). The drug formulation comprises an amount of drug sufficient for treatment and is stable at body temperatures (i.e., no unacceptable degradation) for the entire pre-selected treatment period. The drug delivery devices store the drug formulation safely (e.g., without dose dumping), provide sufficient protection from bodily processes to prevent unacceptable degradation of the formulation, and release the drug formulation in a controlled fashion at a therapeutically effective rate to treat pain. In use, the drug delivery device is implanted in the subject's body at an implantation site, and the drug formulation is released from the drug delivery device to a delivery site. The delivery site may be the same as, near, or distant from the implantation site. Once released at the delivery site, the drug formulation enters the systemic circulation and is transported to the site of action in the body to modulate the pain response (e.g., the brain or other pain sensory location).

1 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A method for treating pain in a subject, the method comprising systemic administration of sufentanil to the subject at a therapeutically effective rate to provide substantially continuous delivery of sufentanil at about 10 μg/hr over a period of at least 24 hours, wherein said administering induces systemic analgesia in the subject. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said period is at least 3 days. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said period is at least 5 days. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said period is at least 10 days. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said period is at least 30 days. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said period is at least 90 days. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said period is at least 1 month.