Method of treating disease by auricular anesthesia of cranial nerves

Abstract

Methods for treating a variety of diseases that comprises performing auricular anesthesia of the vagus, facial, trigeminal, or glossopharyngeal nerves, or combinations thereof. A pharmaceutical composition is administered to an ear canal of a subject in need of such treatment, the composition including an analgesic and an anesthetic. Compositions useful in the taught methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a disease associated with a particular cranial nerve, comprising:
 administering to an ear canal of a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (i) an analgesic and (ii) an anesthetic;   wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject in a concentration sufficient to physiologically alter the activity of the subject's particular cranial nerve compared to the physiological activity of that particular cranial nerve in a subject not administered the pharmaceutical composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the particular cranial nerve is the trigeminal nerve, the facial nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, or the vagus nerve. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disease is at least one selected from the group consisting of: asthma, neurogenic cough, globus hystericus, spasmodic dysphonia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and obesity. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disease is at least one selected from the group consisting of: vasovagal reflex blockage, chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, hypotension, hypertension, diabetes, bladder spasm, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, cystitis pain, enuresis, dysuria, dyspareunia, heavy menstrual flow periods, frequent urination, spasmodic dysphonia, snoring, allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, chronic nasal congestion, allergic conjunctivitis, sneezing, hiccups, rhinitis, dysphagia, irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis, appetite suppression, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, restless leg syndrome, familial intentional tremor, migraines, autism spectrum, anxiety headaches, insomnia, sleep disorders, apraxia, and neck and shoulder pain. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the analgesic is at least one pyrazolone derivative selected from the group consisting of ampyrone, dipyrone, antipyrine, aminopyrine, and propyphenazone. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the analgesic is antipyrine. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anesthetic is at least one selected from the group consisting benzocaine, chloroprocaine, cocaine, cyclomethycaine, dimethocaine, larocaine, piperocaine, propoxycaine, procaine, novocaine, proparacaine, tetracaine, amethocaine, articaine, bupivacaine, cinchocaine, dibucaine, etidocaine, levobupivacaine, lidocaine, lignocaine, mepivacaine, prilocalne, ropivacaine, trimecaine, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anesthetic is benzocaine. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject does not have an ear infection. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises one of more of an antibiotic, a vasoconstrictor, glycerin, or acetic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered in a solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered in a foam. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the analgesic is present in the pharmaceutical composition in a concentration of from 50 to 60 mg per mL and the anesthetic is present in the pharmaceutical composition in a concentration of from 10 to 20 mg per mL. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the analgesic is present in the pharmaceutical composition in a concentration of from 50 to 55 mg per mL and the anesthetic is present in the pharmaceutical composition in a concentration of from 10 to 15 mg per mL. 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating post-tonsillectomy pharyngeal pain, comprising:
 administering to an ear canal of a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (i) antipyrine and (ii) benzocaine,   wherein said subject has had a tonsillectomy within the preceding 168 hours prior to administering said pharmaceutical composition, and   wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject in a concentration sufficient to physiologically alter the activity of the subject's vagus nerve compared to the physiological activity of a vagus nerve in a subject not administered the pharmaceutical composition.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the subject has had a tonsillectomy within the preceding 48 hours prior to administering said pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject within 4 hours of the subject undergoing a tonsillectomy. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating post-adenoidectomy pharyngeal pain, comprising:
 administering to an ear canal of a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (i) antipyrine and (ii) benzocaine,   wherein said subject has had an adenoidectomy within the preceding 168 hours prior to administering said pharmaceutical composition, and   wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject in a concentration sufficient to physiologically alter the activity of the subject's vagus nerve compared to the physiological activity of a vagus nerve in a subject not administered the pharmaceutical composition.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the subject has had an adenoidectomy within the preceding 48 hours prior to administering said pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject within 4 hours of the subject undergoing an adenoidectomy. 
     
     
         21 . A method for treating asthma, comprising:
 administering to an ear canal of a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (i) antipyrine and (ii) benzocaine,   wherein said subject has asthma, and   wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject in a concentration sufficient to physiologically alter the activity of the subject's vagus nerve compared to the physiological activity of a vagus nerve in a subject not administered the pharmaceutical composition.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the subject has suffered an asthma attack within the preceding 48 hours. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the subject has suffered an asthma attack within the preceding 60 minutes. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 monitoring the subject after the administration of the pharmaceutical composition and providing a second administration of the pharmaceutical composition upon indication that the subject is suffering from another asthma attack.   
     
     
         25 . A method for suppressing appetite, comprising:
 administering to an ear canal of a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition, comprising: (i) antipyrine and (ii) benzocaine,   wherein said administering occurs at least once during a 24 hour period, and   wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject in a concentration sufficient to physiologically alter the activity of the subject's vagus nerve compared to the physiological activity of a vagus nerve in a subject not administered the pharmaceutical composition.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the administering occurs at least 3 times during a 24 hour period. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject immediately upon the subject feeling hungry. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject from about 20 minutes to about 60 minutes prior to a food being consumed by said subject. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is administered to the ear canal of the subject concurrently with the consumption of a food.