Dental anesthetic comprising tetracaine and a vasoconstrictor for intranasal administration

Abstract

The present invention relates to tetracaine based anesthetic formulations and methods of use thereof. The invention further relates to topical formulations of tetracaine and methods of topically anesthetizing body tissues. The present invention also relates to tetracaine based dental anesthetic formulations and methods for anesthetizing the maxillary dental arch using these formulations.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 a) tetracaine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;   b) a vasoconstrictor; and   c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is for intranasal administration. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises about 2.25-4.75% (w/v) tetracaine or salt thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 3 , wherein said composition comprises about 3% (w/v) tetracaine or salt thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 4 , wherein said composition comprises about 3% (w/v) tetracaine HCl. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said vasoconstrictor is selected from the group consisting of: indirect α 1 -adrenergic agonists; calcium channel blockers; meperidine; imidazole drugs; α 2 -adrenergic agonists; imidazoline (I 1 ) ligands; direct α 2 -adrenergic agonists; substance P blockers/reducers; I-menthol; icilin; glutamate receptor inhibitors; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 6 , wherein said vasoconstrictor is oxymetazoline, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said vasoconstrictor is oxymetazoline HCl. 
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 8 , wherein said composition comprises about 0.01-1.0% (w/v) oxymetazoline HCl. 
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 9 , wherein said composition comprises about 0.05% (w/v) oxymetazoline HCl. 
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 11 , wherein said preservative is selected from the group consisting of: sugar alcohols, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropanol, cresol, chlorocresol, and phenol. 
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 12 , wherein said preservative is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a viscosity enhancing agent. 
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said viscosity enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of: methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and smart hydrogel. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 15 , wherein said viscosity enhancing agent is hydroxyethylcellulose. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is water, sugar alcohol, or alcohol. 
     
     
         18 . A method for anesthetizing at least a portion of a body part, organ or tissue by delivering to said body part, organ or tissue respectively a pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A device for delivery of a pharmaceutical composition, wherein said device comprises a pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 .