Infiltration of capsaicin into surgical sites and open wounds

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for attenuating or relieving pain at a site in a human or animal in need thereof by infiltrating at a surgical site or open wound in a human or animal a dose of capsaicinoid in an amount effective to denervate the surgical site or open wound substantially without eliciting an effect outside the surgical site or open wound.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An pharmaceutical composition for attenuating pain at a surgical site in a human or animal in need thereof, comprising a capsaicinoid selected from the group consisting of from 1 μg to 15,000 μg of capsaicin, a therapeutically equivalent amount of one or more other capsaicinoids, and therapeutically equivalent combinations thereof; in from about 1 ml to about 100 ml of a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for infiltration. 
     
     
         37 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36  wherein said capsaicinoid comprises from about 500 μg to 5000 μg capsaicin, a therapeutically equivalent amount of one or more other capsaicinoids, and therapeutically equivalent combinations thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36 , wherein the capsaicinoid is at least about 97% trans-capsaicin. 
     
     
         39 - 40 . (canceled)