Medicaments Containing Pantothenic Acid

Abstract

This invention relates to medicaments and their use in the alleviation of inflammation and pain in joints.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating pain in a joint inflamed by traumatic arthritis which comprises injecting a solution comprising at least about 400 mg of pantothenic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a derivative or prodrug thereof into the inflamed joint, or injecting the solution into a site that is next to the inflamed joint but outside the capsule of the inflamed joint. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is injected directly into the inflamed joint. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is injected into a site that is next to the inflamed joint but outside the capsule of the inflamed joint. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the solution is injected into a site that is within about 10 millimeters from the exterior surface of the capsule of the inflamed joint. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pantothenic acid is in the form of a salt. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the salt is the calcium salt. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pantothenic acid or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is co-formulated with a local anaesthetic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a local anaesthetic is co-administered with the pantothenic acid or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a separate injection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises about 500 mg of calcium pantothenate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inflamed joint is a freely moving joint that is inflamed by traumatic arthritis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pantothenic acid is dextro-pantothenic acid.