CA1339080C - Methods and compositions for noninvasive dose-to-effect adminsitration of drugs with cardiovascular or renal vascular acitivities - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for noninvasively administering drugs in a dose-to-effect manner to produce a cardiovascular or renal vascular activity. A cardiovascular or renal vascular drug, which is capable of absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharnyx, and esophagus is incorporated into a matrix which is in the form of a lollipop. A patient is put at ease when given the lollipop, and the drug rapidly enters the patient's bloodstream as the lollipop is sucked. When treating the patient, the physician can observe the patient's condition and remove the lollipop when it has had a desired effect on the patient. A lollipop into which a cardiovascular or renal vascular drug has been dispersed is particularly useful for achieving rapid vasodilating, calcium channel blocking, beta-blocking, seritonin receptor blocking, angina blocking, anti-hypertensive, and cardiac stimulating effects and for controlling urine output.

Description

--l- 1339080 1. The Field of the Invention The present invention is related to methods and 5 compositions for use in systemically delivering potent pharmacological agents having cardiovascular activities to patients in a dose-to-effect manner. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods and compositions for noninvasive administration of precise 10 doses of potent pharmacological agents having cardiovascular functions (such as vasodilating, calcium channel blocking, beta-blocking, seritonin receptor blocking, angina blocking, anti-hypertensive, and cardiac stimulating properties) and renal vascular functions (such 15 as increasing urine output).

2. The Prior Art The proper functioning of a person's cardiovascular system determines to a large extent the quality of life 20 that person will enjoy. There have been significant advances in recent years in understanding the complex mechanisms which control the cardiovascular system. This has led to the development of a host of potent new drugs available for clinical use in treating cardiovascular 25 conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, angina, ventricular and atrial fibrillation, and related conditions, and current expectations are that additional potent drugs will continue to become available in the future.
For example, the physician has at his disposal a vast array of hypotensive drugs useful for treating high blood pressure. Blood pressure ("BP") is the product of two hemodynamic factors, cardiac output ("CO") and total peripheral resistance ("TPR"):

_ -2- ~339080 BP = CO x TPR

A reduction in blood pressure can occur only with a 5 reduction in either CO or TPR, or both.
It is believed that beta-blockers, such as esmolol, nadolol, pindolol, and timolol, reduce blood pressure by decreasing the heart rate or cardiac output. Some beta-blockers, such as atenolol and metoprolol, are known as 10 cardioselective beta-blockers because they have a greater affinity for the beta1 adrenoceptors that predominate in the heart than for the beta2 receptors that predominate in the bronchi and peripheral vasculature. The cardioselective nature of these beta-blockers is lost if 15 too great a dose is administered.
All beta-blockers, however, if administered in excess, may result in impaired pulmonary function, wheezing, and asthmatic attacks. In addition, there may be serious adverse cardiovascular effects from the use of beta-20 blockers, such as bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate),profound hypotension, and even precipitation of severe congestive heart failure. Adverse central nervous system ("CNS") effects of beta-blockers include dizziness, fatigue, mental depression, and in some cases 25 hallucinations; short-term memory impairment and vertigo have also been observed. There may also be adverse gastrointestinal ("GI") reactions, such as diarrhea and nausea.
As a result, it will be appreciated that while beta-30 blockers have a very valuable place in cardiac treatment,it is critical that the appropriate dosage be given to a patient in order to avoid the dangers and problems caused by overdosing or underdosing.

_ _3_ ~ 339080 1 Other hypotensive drugs, such as nitroprusside and hydralazine, reduce blood pressure by lowering the total peripheral resistance by direct vasodilation. These drugs are particularly potent and are usually given in an 5 emergency or when other hypotensive treatments have failed.
Even slight overdoses of this type of hypotensive drug may result in headache, tachycardia, nausea, and diarrhea, and may even precipitate angina pectoris or ventricular arrhythmia.
Still other hypotensive drugs, such a prazosin, are alpha,-blockers which are also capable of reducing blood pressure by lowering the total peripheral resistance as a result of vasodilating effects. An overdose of prazosin may result in headache, drowsiness, palpitation, nausea, 15 and even fainting.
Labetolol is a unique hypotensive drug which combines the features of alpha-blockers with beta-blockers. Blood pressure is reduced due to a decrease in systemic vascular resistance, but usually without a substantial reduction or 20 increase in heart rate, cardiac output, or stroke volume.
Unfortunately, labetolol shares the toxic potentials of both the beta and the alpha-blocking agents. In particular, labetolol overdose may promote or exacerbate congestive heart failure, bronchospasm, hypotension, and 25 bradycardia.
Other hypotensive drugs, such as methyldopa and clonidine, inhibit sympathetic vasomotor centers thereby reducing peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity, blood pressure, and heart rate with little change in total 30 peripheral resistance. An overdose of these drugs may result in drowsiness, headache, nausea, dry mouth, palpita-tion and tachycardia, bradycardia, congestive heart failure, rash, impotence, hepatic abnormalities, and muscle cramps.

1 Some hypotensive drugs, such as captopril and enala-pril, reduce blood pressure by suppressing the renin-angio-tensin-aldosterone ("RAA") system. These drugs inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme ("ACE") thereby resulting in 5 arterial and possibly venous dilation. Thus, blood pressure is reduced by decreasing the total peripheral resistance with either no change or an increase in heart rate, stroke volume, or cardiac output.
These ACE-inhibiting drugs, if administered in excess, 10 may also result in neutropenia, an abnormally low white blood cell count, which may further lead to systemic or regional infections and possible death. Other adverse effects from overdosing of ACE inhibitors include proteinuria (an abnormally high amount of protein in the 15 urine), rash, taste impairment, excessive hypotension, tachycardia, angina, palpitations, and even myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.
The physician also has at his disposal a large number of vasodilating drugs useful for treating angina, 20 congestive heart failure, vasospasm, and in some cases hypertension. However, each of these vasodilating drugs also has serious side effects which present dangers when the proper dose for the patient is not given.
For instance, calcium channel blockers (such as 25 diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil) dilate the coronary and systemic arteries. This is accomplished by inhibiting the transmembrane influx of extracellular calcium ions across the membranes of the myocardial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Calcium plays important roles in the 30 excitation-contraction coupling process of the heart and the vascular smooth muscle cells and in the electrical r discharge of the specialized conduction cells of the heart.
Nevertheless, despite their advantages, an overdose of a calcium channel blocker may lead to bradycardia, _ _5_ ~ 339 080 1 asymptomatic asystole, hypotension, congestive heart failure, anorexia, nausea, and hallucinations.
Other vasodilating drugs include the organic nitrates, such as isosorbide and nitroglycerin. Organic nitrates 5 relax vascular smooth muscles resulting in vasocilation.
The subsequent reduction in venous blood return to the heart results in decreased left ventricular size and pressure (known as "preload"). Arteriolar relaxation reduces systemic vascular resistance and arterial pressure 10 (known as "afterload").
In addition, organic nitrates dilate the pulmonary arteries and veins, thereby reducing right atrial, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary pressures.
Myocardial oxygen consumption and demandr~s decreased 15 because the heart simply does not need to work as hard.
Moreover, because nitroglycerin dilates the veins, it is also an effective treatment of pulmonary edema.
They are particularly useful for relief of angina pectoris, for prophylactic management of situations likely 20 to provoke angina attacks, and for long-term prophylactic management of angina pectoris. Isosorbide may be administered sublingually, lingually, buccally, nasally, or orally. However, an overdose of isosorbide may result in headache, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia, hypotension, 25 fainting, or other dangerous depressions of vital body functions.
As noted above, nitroglycerin relaxes the smooth muscles in vascular tissues, which results in lower blood pressure. Hence, in addition to the treatment of angina, 30 nitroglycerin is an effective drug for treating high blood pressure (i.e., "hypertension"). Moreover, the vasodilating action of nitroglycerin reduces the myocardial work, thereby avoiding cardiac failure during periods of cardiac stress.

- -6- 1~3 3g~80 1 Nitroglycerin is administered through a variety of delivery systems such as injection, oral, sublingual, buccal, or transdermal administration. The speed at which the onset effect of nitroglycerin occurs and the length of that effect is directly related to the method of administration.
For instance, sublingually administered nitroglycerin provides very fast onset resonse, usually within one to three minutes. However, the effect of nitroglycerin 10 administered sublingually is for a very short duration, typically no longer than thirty minutes after the sublingual tablet or lozenge dissolves.
Finally, the physician has at his disposal a number of cardiac drugs useful for treating ventricular 15 fibrillation, acute ventricular arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Again, these drugs, while useful, can be very dangerous when the patient's susceptibility to the drug makes it difficult to know the proper dose.
Amrinone, for example, is an inotropic drug which increases the force and velocity of myocardial systolic contraction. In addition, amrinone has vasodilatory acti-vity affecting vascular smooth muscle. In patients with congestive heart failure, amrinone produces substantial increases in cardiac output.
However, serious adverse effects may arise in the event of an overdose of amrinone; these adverse effects include: thrombocytopenia (an abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets), arrhythmias, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatotixicity marked by 30 abnormal liver function, and hypersensitivity.
Bretylium and lidocaine are well-known anti-arrhythmic drugs. Bretylium is used in the prophylaxis and treatment of ventricular fibrillation. However, because it commonly causes hypotension, and may increase ventricular '~ _7_ 1 3 ~9 080 1 irritability, bretylium is considered a second choice drug.
Lidocaine is a CNS-depressing drug which controls ventricular arrhythmias. It also produces sedative, analgesic, and anti-convulsant effects. Overdoses may 5 result in seizures, respiratory arrest, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness, or even coma.
In addition to drugs for treating cardiovascular conditions, many new drugs for treatment of renal vascular functions have been developed in recent years. However, 10 like most drugs affecting the cardiovascular system, the drugs affecting the renal vascular system must be precisely administered to avoid serious side-effects or the dangers of overdosing and underdosing.
Dopamine is a very useful drug for increasing renal 15 blood flow and urine output. Its application is most beneficial in a patient who has a Foley catheter in his uninary bladder. In its clinical application, dopamine is administered until urine output is significantly increased or approaches a normal range.
Despite its benefits, the detriment of using too much dopamine is reflected in increases in the heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and myocardial oxygen consump-tion. These effects are extremely dangerous in patients with ischemic cardiac disease. Hence, precise dosage 25 control is critical to the effective use of dopamine.
Despite the tremendous advances in the field of pharmacology, physicians continue to administer these new cardiovascular and renal vascular drugs using substantially the same techniques that have been employed for many 3 ~ decades .
Thus, almost all cardiovascularly and renal vascularly active pharmacological drugs continue to be administered via two routes, the oral dosage form for absorption through the stomach and/or intestines or by intramuscular or intra-_ -8- 1 3 39 080 1 venous injection. These two drug administration modalities are the most frequently used despite the fact that both of these routes suffer from significant disadvantages in particular situations.
The simplest and most prevalent administration route is the oral dosage form. To use this method, a pharmacological drug is incorporated into a tablet, a capsule, or into a liquid base. The patient then ingests the predetermined dose of the drug. Oral administration of 10 a drug is extremely convenient, and, for many drugs, it will continue to be the method of choice. Such administration is nonthreatening and is painless to the patient. For most patients, it is also very simple.
Nevertheless, oral administration of a drug suffers 15 from the disadvantage that many patients, particularly geriatric patients, frequently have difficulty swallowing pills. Such patients often refuse to cooperate in swallowing a liquid medication. Even more importantly, absorption of a drug into the bloodstream after swallowing 20 a tablet varies from patient to patient and in the same patient from time to time. The absorption of the drug is dependent upon the movement of the drug from the stomach to the small and large intestines and the effect of secretions from these organs.
Even more important, there is typically a substantial delay between the time of oral administration of a drug and the time that the drug begins to have the desired thera-peutic effect on the patient's cardiovascular, renal vascular, or other systems. Generally, a drug must pass 30 from the stomach into the small and large intestines before it will be absorbed into the patient's bloodstream;
7' unfortunately, this typically takes forty-five minutes or longer. For many clinical situations, such a delay is unacceptable.

1 Further, many drugs taken orally, particularly cardiovascular-acting drugs, are metabolized almost immediately -- they are removed from or rendered ineffective by the patient's system before they can have 5 any therapeutic effect. This occurs because the veins from the small and large intestines, and to a certain extent also the stomach, drain into the liver. Thus, drugs entering the patient's bloodstream through the intestines immediately pass through the patient's liver before 10 distribution throughout the remainder of the patient's body.
Unfortunately, upwards of sixty percent of a drug (and essentially one hundred percent of certain drugs) may be removed from the patient's bloodstream during this "first 15 pass" through the liver. The result is that the oral route of administration is impractical for many drugs, particu-larly many cardiovascular-acting and renal vascular-acting drugs.
Further, additional stress is placed on the liver as 20 it removes the excess drug from the bloodstream. This is particularly severe if the cardiovascular or renal vascular treatment has been occurring over an extended period of time. The liver may become overloaded with the drug's metabolite which then must be excreted in the patient's 25 urine. As a result, there is an increased risk of hepatic or renal disorders.
Yet a further difficulty encountered when administering cardiac and related drugs orally is that dosages are prepared or determined for use with an ~average~ patient. This is entirely acceptable for many drugs, but some drugs, such as those that have a cardiovascular, anti-hypertensive, vasodilating, anti-anginal, or renal vascular effect, have a widely varying effect on different patients, depending upon individual -lO- 1 339 0 80 1 variations in susceptibility to the particular drug utilized.
Underdosing a patient because of a low susceptibility to the drug fails to evoke the cardiovascular or renal S vascular response sought by the physician. Overdosing the patient can result in too much vasodilation, hypotension, cardiac or respiratory depression, other side effects such as headaches, nausea, or other dangerous depression of vital body functions.
Moreover, the slow and uncertain response time for the onset of an observable reaction to a cardiovascular drug when taken orally makes it even more difficult to determine a proper dose for a particular patient; the physician may not learn for an hour, or with some drugs for a few days, 15 whether the patient was underdosed or overdosed. By then, extraordinary measures may be necessary to remedy the patient's condition.
In order to avoid these serious~disadvantages inherent in the oral administration route, physicians frequently 20 resort to the injection route for administering many drugs.
Injecting a drug (generally intravenously or intra-muscularly) results in rapid entry of the drug into the patient's bloodstream and onset of the desired effect. In addition, this type of delivery avoids the removal of large 25 quantities of the drug by the patient's liver that accom-panies oral administration. Rather, the drug becomes rapidly distributed to various portions of the patient's body before exposure to the liver; thus, the drug is removed by the liver only after it has first reached the 30 cardiovascular or renal vascular systems.
Most patients have at least some aversion to receiving r injections. In some patients, this aversion may be so pronounced as to make the use of'injections of serious concern to the physician. Since intense psychological 1 stress can exacerbate a patient's debilitated condition, it sometimes becomes undesirable to use injections where the patient is seriously ill, suffers from a debilitating condition or injury, or where there is no immediate medical 5 assistance.
To compound the problem facing a physician, the individual variation in susceptibility and metabolism with respect to cardiovascular drugs, which makes it difficult to select an appropriate dose for oral administration is 10 even more profound when utilizing the injection route.
This is because smaller doses have an increased effect due to the rapidity in which the drug enters the bloodstream because large portions of the drug are not immediately metabolized by the liver.
In order to prevent overdosing a patient with potent cardiovascular drugs, a prudent physician typically injects a patient with a lower than average dose, and later supple-ments the dose with additional injections as they appear necessary. This, of course, makes necessary the use of 20 repeated injections, which in turn greatly increases the stress on the patient. It is not uncommon for a patient to come to fear that it is time for yet another injection every time the patient sees a member of the hospital staff, which is often the case for those most in need of potent drugs.
Because of the problems associated with the oral and injection routes of administration, physicians have sought other delivery mechanisms for achieving the desired cardiovascular or renal vascular action. Accordingly, transdermal and transmucosal (including buccal, lingual and sublingual) delivery routes have been explored. Those approaches are more pleasant than intramuscular delivery systems and are more reliable since they are less susceptible to gastrointestinal variability. These 1~3go8o l alternative medicament administration routes also result in more stable plasma and tissue concentrations of the medicament as it is absorbed by the body.
However, the transdermal and transmucosal delivery 5 routes do not enable precise dose-to-effect compatibility (that is, administering a proper dose until the desire effect is achieved and doing so in a manner that eliminates the variabilities between patients). Moreover, these delivery systems do not easily enable rapid adjustment of lO plasma or tissue concentrations if clinical conditions dictate that a higher or a lower concentration would be more desirable in the next few minutes.
This is most easily seen with sublingual nitroglycerin tablets used for angina. When a patient has angina, the lS patient places a nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue (the "sublingual" administration route). From a practical standpoint, it is not possible to remove a sublingual nitroglycerin tablet once it has been placed under the tongue. The tablet is very small (typically, two to three 20 millimeters in diameter) and dissolves very quickly.
In addition, because the tablet dissolves so rapidly, there is a lag time between the time the dose is given (i.e., when the tablet dissolves) and when the effects are observed. So, once it is under the tongue, the patient is 25 more or less committed to taking the entire dose of nitroglycerin contained in the tablet, even if the angina would have been alleviated with only one-half of the dose in a tablet.
Consumption of the remainder of the tablet often 30 results in an overdose and a severe headache. If the first tablet is not effective in treating angina, the patient must then take a second or a third tablet. This is a slow process and still may ultimately result in a relative overdose after the final tablet.

-13- 13~9080 1 There are other practical problems with the sublingual administration route for nitroglycerin. Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets are intentionally very small in size so that they may be conveniently placed and maintained 5 under the patient's tongue without evoking an undesirable response. However, the small size of the tablet makes them difficult for the patient to handle.
Another approach to overcoming the problems associated with the injection and oral delivery routes has been to incorporate the cardiovascular-acting renal vascular-acting drug into a nasal spray. However, since intermittent, multiple sprays of the drug are required, patients find it difficult to deliver the appropriate dosage to alleviate their symptoms and avoid the problems and side effects of 15 overdosing.
Moreover, the propellant in the spray can interfere with the effectiveness and accurate delivery of the proper dosage of the drug. Problems with the temperature stability of the ingredients and the angle of the sprayer 20 can also affect the dose of drug actually delivered. While these nasal sprays have avoided some of the problems of the oral and injection routes, they have not solved many of the problems associated with the delivery of the precise dose necessary to relieve the symptoms of the patient while 25 accounting for the patient's individual susceptibility to the cardiovascular-acting or renal vascular-acting drug.
For example, sprays incorporating nitroglycerin have been developed in which the drug is sprayed on the oral mucosa using a lingual aerosol canister (the "lingual"
30 administration route). The nitroglycerin lingual aerosol spray delivers nitroglycerin in 0.4 mg metered doses. this in essence is a delivery of a series of 0.4 mg boluses of nitroglycerin, only providing an alternative method of delivery, without any improvement whatsoever in _ -14- 1~39080 1 titratability. The dosage options are the same as tablets, i.e., increments of 0.4 mg doses. The dose is preferably sprayed onto or under the tongue and then the mouth is immediately closed. The spray canister delivers a fixed 5 dosage for each spray. As in sublingual administration, lingual administration is relatively fast-acting, but if relief is not attained after the initial spray, additional sprays must be given. Again, this is a slow process which usually results in a relative overdose after the final lO spray. Moreover, the lingual spray suffers from the same problems as discussed above with respect to the nasal sprays.
Additionally, care must be taken to not shake the aerosol canister prior to use, since shaking may generate 15 bubbles within the canister which impair the proper release of nitroglycerin from the device. Also, the spray should not be inhaled, and swallowing immediately after spraying should be avoided. For many patients, particularly geriatric patients, these administration techniques may be 20 too complex.
Physicians may also recommend buccal administration of nitroglycerin or other cardiovascular-acting or renal vascular-acting drugs. Buccal nitroglycerin tablets are typically placed between the upper lip and teeth. The 25 tablet surface develops a gel-like coating that adheres to the mucosal surface of the mouth. As long as the tablet remains intact, nitroglycerin continues to pass from the tablet matrix to the mucosal tissue where it is rapidly absorbed. If the tablet is chewed and broken up, an 30 undesirable mount of nitroglycerin is released for submucosal absorption or, if swallowed, the nitroglycerin r would be metabolized by the liver as discussed above.
Since the nitroglycerin in a buccal tablet can enter the body in three different areas, depending upon whether the _ -15- 1339080 l tablet remains in place or is chewed, it is often difficult to ensure that the proper dose is delivered.
When used properly, buccal nitroglycerin acts rapidly after placement in the mouth--almost as fast as sublingual 5 nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin is released into the buccal cavity so long as the tablet remains intact. The average tablet dissolution time is between three to five hours;
therefore, many patients, particularly geriatric patients, will have difficulty keeping the tablet in place for so 10 long. Tablet dissolution time and the effective amount of the medicament delivered to the patient varies from patient to patient, and even in a given patient, because of differences in saliva production, tongue manipulation, inadvertant chewing (displacement of the gel "seal"), and 15 eating or drinking by the patient.
Because of the wide variation of dissolution times from patient to patient, the same buccal nitroglycerin tablet is likely to result in either an overdose or underdose, depending on the patient. Although it is 20 theoretically possible to manually remove the buccal tablet from the mouth and later replace it so as to control the amount of nitroglycerin released to the patient, such a procedure is not very practical.
For instance, if the tablet is manually removed from 25 the mouth by the patient, it is likely to become contaminated by the patient's touch. Further, many patients who need nitroglycerin medication are older; these patients have difficulty coordinating small tablets in their mouth and find it extremely difficult to handle the 30 small tablets with their hands.
Another alternative method of administering cardiovascular-acting or renal vascular-acting drugs is by applying ointment or patches to the skin which contain the drug. For example, nitroglycerin will readily pass through -133gO80 1 the skin (the "transdermal" administration route) and into the patient's bloodstream. When ointment is applied to the skin, its effect is observed within sixty minutes, with a duration from four to eight hours. Nitroglycerin patches 5 are designed to provide continuous treatment for up to 24 hours.
The effect of nitroglycerin ointment varies from patient to patient. The area of application of the dose as well as the site, dosage, state of hydration of the skin 10 surface, and permeability are all variables affecting the patient's response. In addition, nitroglycerin ointment is impractical for many patients because of the difficulty in application, its mess, cosmetic problems, and potential staining.
A major advance in cutaneous administration of nitroglycerin occurred with the development of a sustained-release patch. These preparations contain nitroglycerin in a reservoir or matrix and are designed to provide constant delivery of the drug into the circulation for twenty-four 20 hours. The rate of the drug release is primarily determined by the device itself, rather than the characteristics of the patient's skin. However, important questions regarding dosage requirements, efficacy, and duration of action remain unanswered. Several recent 25 reports involving patients with either angina pectoris or congestive heart failure have questioned the efficacy of these products. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for the variability of patient response. The development of tolerance, low nitroglycerin plasma levels 30 and tissue concentrations secondary to poor absorption of the drug, and inability of the delivery system to deliver drug for a full twenty-four hours are all proposed explanations of this phenomenon.

--17- 13 3gO80 1 Similarly, patients using nitroglycerin transdermal patches may have reasonable plasma and tissue concentrations of nitroglycerin, but they cannot easily or rapidly increase or decrease those concentrations except by 5 pulling off the patches or adding additional patches. Both of the latter processes are, at best, gross adjustments because of the slow response in transdermal patches, which results in relative overdose or underdose of nitroglycerin.
In addition to the problem of slow onset, recent 10 research indicates that continuous use of transdermal patches results in the development of a tolerance to the nitroglycerin. This suggests that continued use of nitroglycerin transdermal patches may not be a practical alternative for many patients.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that it would be an important advancement in the art of admini-stering cardiovascular, renal vascular and related drugs if suitable methods and compositions could be provided that were capable of rapid action, of avoiding the disadvantage 20 of immediate metabolism through the patient's liver, and of not involving an injection.
Given the life-sustaining importance of the cardiovascular and renal vascular systems, any drug which affects these systems is potentially life threatening if 25 administered improperly. It would be, therefore, a further advancement in the art of administering potent cardiovas-cular and renal vascular drugs if suitable methods and compositions could be provided that enabled individual patient fine-tuning of ideal doses (providing a dose-to-30 effect administration modality) so that doses could beadjusted not only on an individual basis but easily increased or deceased at each time of administration.
It would also be an important advancement in the art if methods and compositions could be provided that would 13~gO80 1 give a physician, as well as the patient (in appropriate circumstances), control over the administration of medication so that a desired effect is not only obtained but also maintained during times when his cardiac status or 5 blood pressure changed.
Such methods and compositions are disclosed and claimed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIO~
The present invention is directed to novel uses and compositions for use in administering potent cardiovascular and renal vascular related drugs capable of eliciting appropriate cardiac, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, anti-anginal, renal, and related effects. The present invention 15 is capable of introducing the drug into the patient's bloodstream almost as fast as an injection -- and much faster than oral administration. Yet, it is nonthreatening and painless.
These significant advantages are achieved by incorpor-20 ating into a candy or compressed powder matrix a drugcapable of being absorbed through the mucosal tissue found in a patient's mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. The resultant mixture is then advantageously formed into a lollipop, which, as discussed in greater detail 25 hereinafter, can be administered in a dose-to-effect manner.
Even patients having difficulty swallowing a pill or refusing to swallow a liquid, will give little resistance to sucking on a lollipop. When dealing with resistant 30 adults, a lollipop evokes a pleasurable response in the patient and gives the patient something nonthreatening on which to concentrate. Further, sucking is a natural and instinctive response which virtually all persons find relaxing.

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1~39080 _ ~ --19--A cardiovascular-acting or renal vascular-acting drug administered in this way will quickly enter the patient's bloodstream through the veins which serve the mucosal tissues.
Appropriate monitoring of the patient's reaction to the drug (e.g., measuring blood pressure, monitoring heart rate or changes in the EKG, monitoring the extent of angina, observing the degree of vasodilation, or monitoring the urine output) will indicate when the drug has evoked a suitable response.
The lollipop may then be removed, or its rate of consumption may be decreased.
It will be appreciated that the ever-present risk of overdosing a patient is substantially minimized, if not almost eliminated, through the proper practicing of the uses and compositions within the scope of the present invention. The rate at which the cardiovascular drug is to be absorbed by the body can be varied by varying the rate the lollipop dissolves.
This can be achieved by modifying the composition of the lollipop or the vigor with which the patient "sucks" on the lollipop.
Thus, the drug dose is given over a period of time rather than all at once, and the administration rate can be reduced if such appears necessary. As soon as the patient's blood pressure becomes ideal, heart rate stabilizes, urine output increases to more normal limits, the EKG improves, or angina disappears, he will simply stop sucking the lollipop and/or the physician can easily remove the lollipop from the patient's mouth.
A patient experiencing angina can self-administer small amounts of drug "on demand" by simply licking or sucking on the lollipop in response to his subjective experience of the cardiovascular or renal vascular condition (for example, angina pain, urine output, and heart rate). The patient can then remove the lollipop r~
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133gO80 1 before the side effects and dangers of overdosing are experienced.
Unlike the use of injections or oral ingestion of cardiovascular medications where a relatively large bolus 5 dose of medication is given intermittently, use of a lolli-pop can permit the patient to take very small doses of a cardiac or renal drug on an almost continuous basis.
Moreover, such administration can be regulated in response to the patient's own need for medication in light of his 10 own subjective experience of the cardiac or renal condition and the patient's own personal susceptibility to the particular drug utilized.
Further, the use of a lollipop to administer cardiovascular-acting or renal vascular-acting drugs is far 15 superior to the presently used transdermal techniques. A
nitroglycerin lollipop, for example, can provide near-immediate response, whereas transdermal nitroglycerin in the form of ointments and patches requires up to an hour before any therapeutic effect is realized. This large lag 20 time between the dose of nitroglycerin received via transdermal techniques and its observable effect prohibits the use of these methods in a true dose-to-effect manner.
In addition, the variation of skin permeability from patient to patient makes it difficult for the physician to 25 prescribe a correct dose for each patient. Skin permeability may vary even in the same patient from time to time. For instance, changes in stress, skin status such as sunburned, dry, or oily skin, and even repeated transdermal administration in the same location all affect skin 30 permeability.
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-20a- 1~39080 Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a soluble matrix material in the form of a lollipop into which a drug has been dispersed for inducing rapidly a predetermined systemic modification of S cardiovascular or renal vascular functions in a patient in a dose-to-effect manner while modifying the rate of dissolution of the drug-containing lollipop in response to the predetermined systemic modification, whereinthe cardiovascular or renal vascular functions of the patient are susceptible to the drug and wherein said soluble matrix material is a carbohydrate mass capable of releasing the drug for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.
There is further provided in accordance with another aspect of the present invention a composition for use in inducing a predetermined rapid systemic modification of cardiovascular functions in a patient, said composition comprising: an effective dose of a drug in substantially powdered form capable of being absorbed through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus, and capable of rapidly inducing a predetermined systemic modification of cardiovascular functions in the patient; a soluble matrix material, being a soluble, compressible, substantially powdered carbohydrate material, the drug being dispersed substantially uniformly within the matrix due to mixing the drug and carbohydrate material at a temperature below the melting points of the drug and the carbohydrate material so that the drug released for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus as the matrix dissolves when placed in a patient's mouth; and holder means secured to the drug-containing matrix, said holder means being configured so as to permit convenient insertion of the drug-containing matrix into the mouth of a patient, and convenient removal thereof when a desired condition is obtained.
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide noninvasive uses and compositions D

- .r ' ' l339o8o 1 of rapidly reducing heart rate or blood pressure, eliminating angina, increasing urine output, improving the EKG, or inducing an appropriate state of cardiac function.
It is another important object of the present 5 invention to provide uses and compositions that would allow for more physician and patient control over the administration of cardiovascular or renal vascular drug actions so that individual patient differences, susceptibilities, and metabolisms can be ta~en into 10 account.
Yet another primary object of the present invention is to provide uses and compositions for drug administration which minimize the psychological trauma generally associated with injections, the adverse physical and 15 psychological problems often associated with the oral administration of potent drugs, and the limitations of the sublingual, lingual, buccal, nasal, and transdermal modalities of drug administrations.
It is a further object of the present invention to 20 provide for uses of drug administration that are capable of dose-to-effect administration, thereby minimizing under-dosing and overdosing of the patient.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide uses and compositions that will permit a patient 25 to control the amount of cardiac medication administered according to individual variations in the susceptibility to the particular medication used and in response to the patient's subjective experience of angina, hypertension, tachycardia, urine output, changes in EKG, etc.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims.

~D

133gO80 As discussed above, the present invention is directed to methods and compositions for use in the noninvasive dose-to-effect administration of cardiovascular-acting and 5 renal vascular-acting drugs. Advantageously, the present invention permits exceptional control over the effect of the drug administered, despite individual susceptibility to and metabolism of that drug.
While maintaining the convenience of oral administra-10 tion, the present invention provides for the advantages ofthe injection route. At the same time, the present inven-tion avoids the disadvantages identified above with respect to these two traditional routes of administration as well as newer lingual, sublingual, bucal, nasal, and transdermal 15 applications-A few drugs, such as nifedipine, nitroglycerin, andisosorbide dinitrate, have been administered by absorption through mucosal tissue because the transmucosal route is faster than oral administration modality, and, unlike 20 injections, can be easily self-administered. While drugs are easily given by the transmucosal route, they have not, unfortunately, been given by a dose-to-effect method. In dose-to-effect drug administration, the drug is administered until a predetermined effect is obtained;
25 thereafter, the administration process is modified or terminated.
Despite some limited use, the transmucosal route has not been favored for routine use. Instead, where a delay in drug action is acceptable, the oral route has been 30 preferred by most physicians, and injections have been used where delay is not acceptable.
Transmucosal dose-to-effect delivery of a drug is slightly slower to provide active concentrations of a drug in a patient's system than is the use of an injection.

_ -23- 1 33~ 08~

1 Nevertheless, it has been discovered that the transmucosal route can be adapted so that any loss in the speed of drug uptake is more than offset by the ability to administer the drug noninvasively (much to the appreciation of the 5 patient) and by the ability to control the dose received by the patient.
A drug must be lipophilic in order to be absorbed across mucosal tissue. However, this requirement is not a serious limitation since a large number of drugs are 10 naturally lipophilic or can be provided in a lipophilic form.
In accordance with the present invention, a suitable drug is dispersed or compressed within a carbohydrate mass or other suitable matrix and incorporated into a lollipop.
15 The drug-containing lollipop is then given to a patient to suck on so that the drug will be released into the patient's mouth as the lollipop dissolves. Being lipophilic, a significant portion of the drug is absorbed through the mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.
From the mucosal tissues, the drug rapidly enters the patient's bloodstream. Equally important, the blood in the veins draining from the mouth and the pharyngeal and esophageal regions passes through a substantial portion of 25 the body (so that the drug can be absorbed) before the blood passes through the liver (where the drug will usually be metabolized and/or inactivated).
The use of a drug-containing lollipop to administer a drug offers several important advantages. First, a 30 lollipop is familiar and lacks the menace of a syringe.
Being a item normally associated with pleasure, a lollipop immediately evokes a positive psychological response. In addition, the lollipop is easy for the patient or physician to handle.

-24- ~339080 1 Importantly, it has been found that the use of drug-containing lollipop can permit the physician to control the dosage of the drug administered to the patient in order to produce the desired anti-anginal state, blood pressure, 5 heart rate, urine output, or changes in EKG, etc., thereby resulting in dose-to-effect drug administration. The use of such drug-containing lollipops also permits the patient to exert control over the dosage received of cardiac or renal drugs in order to optimize functions of the 10 cardiovascular or renal vascular systems.
These important advantages are available because very small amounts of the drug may be delivered to a patient substantially continuously, and administration of the drug may be halted at any time by simply removing the lollipop 15 from the patient's mouth. This not only allows a physician to monitor a patient's condition so that a particular effect is obtained and maintained, but also provides an important safety benefit.
By contrast, once a typically bolus dose of a drug is 20 given orally, sublingually, lingually, buccally, nasally, transdermally, or by injection, it is either impossible or impractical to retrieve the dose. Thus, the full effects of the administered drug will be felt by the patient.
Further, a large dose given every few hours results in wide 25 swings in plasma concentration of the drug, while the use of a lollipop in accordance with the present invention evens out the plasma concentration of that drug.
In practice, a physician can offer the patient a drug-containing lollipop together with simple instructions that 30 the lollipop is to be sucked rather than chewed. Anxious adults are particularly put at ease by this approach. The physician can then monitor the patient's condition to ensure the desired effect is achieved. If, for example, the drug-containing lollipop contains nifedipine, the ~3~9080 1 physician can monitor the patient's angina or blood pressure until a suitable modification of the blood pressure is achieved or the angina has been relieved.
As mentioned above, it is preferred that the medicated matrix material take the form of a lollipop. Use of a stick or other suitable holder permits easy removal of the lollipop when the patient has received the proper dosage of the drug contained in the lollipop.
Provision of a suitable holder also facilitates 10 intermittent administration of the drug to maintain a desired condition and makes it more convenient for a patient to intermittently self-administer a cardiac medication in response to variations in the patient's subjective or objective evaluation of his cardiac 15 condition. Use of a suitable holder prevents contamination of the medicated matrix material when the lollipop is periodically removed from the mouth and later replaced.
The speed at which a sufficient amount of drug enters the patient's bloodstream so as to produce a desired effect 20 depends on several factors. For example, a very potent drug requires fewer drug molecules to enter the patient's system than does a weak drug to produce a desired effect.
Accordingly, if rapid modification of cardiovascular action (i.e., an immediate decrease in blood pressure) is desired, 25 a potent rather than a weak drug could be used.
Additionally, the degree of lipophilicity of a drug directly affects the rate of absorption of the drug. A
highly lipophilic drug will result in the more rapid onset of a desired response than will a more moderately 3 ~ 1 ipophi 1 ic drug -For example, nitroprusside is a very potent drug which * is highly lipophilic. However, nifedipine is nearly twiceas lipophilic as nitroprusside and thus is capable of faster absorption. It will be appreciated, however, that ~ 339080 1 other pharmacokinetic properties of a drug will affect the rate at which the effect of the drug is observed in the patient. For example, while isosorbide is not so lipophilic, its other pharmacokinetic properties make it 5 extremely fast-acting once it is absorbed into the bloodstream.
The choice of matrix and the concentration of the drug in the matrix are also important factors with respect to the rate of drug uptake. A matrix that dissolves quickly 10 will deliver a drug into the patient's mouth for absorption more quickly than a matrix that is slow to dissolve.
Similarly, a lollipop that contains a drug in a high concentration will release more drug in a given period of time than a lollipop having a low drug concentration.
It will be appreciated that varying the concentrations of the drug in the matrix or the properties of the matrix (particularly the rate at which the matrix dissolves) can be advantageously used in designing specific compositions for specific uses. A lollipop of a given concentration may 20 be used to relieve angina, while a lollipop of a stronger concentration (which is possibly of a different color so as to prevent confusion) can be used when it is desired to decrease arterial blood pressure.
Another use of these properties is to prepare a multi-25 layer lollipop where the outer layer is of a concentrationdiffering from that of the inner layer. Such a drug delivery system has a variety of applications. By way of example, it may be desirable to quickly get a predetermined dose of a drug into the bloodstream to obtain a desired 30 effect and then use a different concentration to maintain that effect.
In addition to modifying the physical characteristics of the lollipop, the technique used by the patient to suck the lollipop may also be used to affect the rate of the -27- 1 3~9 080 1 absorption of the drug. If substantial portions of the lollipop are chewed and swallowed, the normal complications of oral administration will be encountered (i.e., slow response and loss of drug in the stomach and liver).
If the lollipop is sucked slowly with little production of saliva, very little drug will be swallowed, but a reduction in the amount of saliva will also cause a reduction in the rate at which the medicated candy portion dissolves. It will be appreciated that the technique of 10 sucking utilized by the patient can have a significant effect on the rate of drug uptake into the patient's bloodstream.
Use of a lollipop, in contrast to a simple drop, pellet, or spray, helps control proper placement of the 15 medicated matrix within the patient's mouth since the medical professional can manipulate the matrix and demonstrate proper placement to the patient, and the medical professional can easily monitor placement by observation of the angle of the protruding stick. Once a 20 suitable technique for sucking the lollipop has been selected, the remaining factors can be adjusted accordingly.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention has broad applicability to a variety of 25 cardiovascular and renal vascular agents. For example, the present invention may be utilized in the administration of anti-anginal and vasodilators (such as nitroglycerin and isosorbide), calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine), beta-blockers (such as esmolol, 30 nadolol, pindolol, timolol, atenolol, and metoprolol), other hypotensive agents (such as prazosin, labetolol, f methyldopa, nitroprusside, clonidine, hydralazine, captopril, and enalapril), cardiac drugs (such as bretylium, lidocaine, and amrinone), and renal modification -28- ~339080 1 drugs (such as dopamine). It will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast acting.
By incorporating a drug into a lollipop within the scope of the present invention, the amount of the drug used will generally differ from the amount used in more tradi-tional injection and oral administration techniques.
Depending upon the lipophilic nature of the drug, its 10 potency, and its end use (e.q., relief of anginal pain, lowering blood pressure, modifying cardiac functions, and modifying urine output), the total concentration of the drug in a typical lollipop may contain up to fifty times the amount of the drug which may be used in an injection.
15 However, for purposes of example, Table I sets forth presently contemplated ranges of the dosagés of certain drugs which would typically be used.

Table I

Druq Generic Lollipop Dose Range Amrinone 50-100 milligrams Atenolol 50-150 milligrams Atropine 0.4-1 milligrams Bretylium 50-500 milligrams Captopril 25-75 milligrams Clonidine 0.1-0.5 milligrams Diltiazem 30-120 milligrams Dipyridamole 50-150 milligrams Dopamine 350-700 micrograms Enalapril 5-15 milligrams Ephedrine 25-75 milligrams Esmolol 25-250 milligrams Hydralazine 10-75 milligrams _ -29- 1 3 3go80 1 Isosorbide 2.5-40 milligrams Labetolol 100-400 milligrams Lidocaine 50-250 milligrams Methyldopa 250-750 milligrams Metoprolol 25-100 milligrams Nadolol 40-160 milligrams Nifedipine 10-40 milligrams Nitroglycerin 0.2-1.6 milligrams Nitroprusside 10-50 milligrams Phenoxybenzamine 10-40 milligrams Phentolamine 5-15 milligrams Pindolol 5-15 milligrams Prazosin 2-10 milligrams Procainamide 250-500 milligrams Timolol 10-50 milligrams Tolazoline 25-75 milligrams Timethaphan 10-50 milligrams Verapamil 80-240 milligrams When the drug is dispersed in a "candy" matrix, care must be taken that no decomposition of the drug occurs.
Since the candy matrix must typically be heated above about 25 230~F, this can be a serious limitation to the use of conventional candy-making processes.
Furthermore, one or more of the ingredients necessary for the successful formulation of a hard candy base may 30 have an adverse effect, when in solution, upon the stability of the incorporated therapeutic agent.

r Therefore, a manufacturing technique may be employed that, ~30- 1339080 1 where necessary, will enable most therapeutic agents to be incorporated with suitable flavors and other insipients into a solid dosage form on an appliance or holder, for a 5 dose-to-effect modality.
To achieve this, the therapeutic agent is included in a compressible carbohydrate matrix and stamped or directly compressed in an appropriate mold so that the drug-contain-ing matrix is attached to an appliance such as a holder.
The choice of a particular carbohydrate matrix is subject to wide variation. Conventional sweeteners such as 15 sucrose may be utilized, or carbohydrates suitablé for use with diabetic patients, such as sorbitol or mannitol, might be employed. Other sweeteners, such as the aspartames, can also be easily incorporated into a composition in 20 accordance with the present invention. The matrix base may be very soft and fast dissolving, or may be hard and slower dissolving. Various forms will have advantages in different situations.
In one embodiment of the present invention, nitroglycerin is incorporated into a mixture having a ratio of compressible sugar to malto dextran in the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:4. In addition, sweeteners and other flavor enhancing materials are added to the mixture. The mixture is then hydraulically compressed into a lollipop form.

1 By increasing the hydraulic compression of the mixture, it is possible to make the lollipop dissolve more slowly in the mouth. In addition, the addition of a 5 hydrophobic agent will also make the lollipop ingredients less soluble so that the lollipop dissolves more slowly in the mouth. Further, it will be appreciated that the patient can modify the rate of dissolution of the lollipop (and hence, the rate of the absorption of nitroglycerin) by modifying the vigor of the sucking action.
The nitroglycerin-containing lollipops of the present 15 invention are particularly useful in lowering blood pressure prior to surgery. Frequently, a pateint grows increasingly anxious as impending surgery draws closer. As a result, a patient's blood pressure rises dramatically.
20 When the patient has an abnormally high blood pressure, it is more difficult for the anesthesiologist to administer safely a proper dose of anesthetic. The physician can give the patient a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop, and within 25 a very few minutes, the patient's blood pressure is lowered to a point where the anesthetic can be administered safely.
The nitroglycerin lollipops of the present invention are similarly useful for treating post-operative hypertension. The rapid absorption of the nitroglycerin through the mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and ~ -32- ~339080 1 esophagus allows for excellent control of the patient's blood pressure during the stressful post-operative period.
The rapid absorption of the nitroglycerin contained 5 in the lollipops of the present invention also makes possible the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy and particularly during labor. Another use of the lollipops of the present invention in the treatment of hypertension is as a supplement to the anti-hypertensive drug that a patient may be using on a daily basis. As the patient encounters a stressful situation, or otherwise experiences 15 an increase in blood pressure, the patient can use a nitroglycerin lollipop to rapidly bring the blood pressure down to within any acceptable (and even normal) level.
The nitroglycerin-containing lollipop of the present 20 invention is also particularly adaptable to the treatment of angina. A patient can self-administer nitroglycerin simply by licking or sucking on the nitroglycerin lollipop until the pain in relieved. Thereafter, the lollipop may 25 be removed and subsequently reinserted (as needed) to maintain relief from angina. Alternatively, by reducing the rate of sucking or by using a lollipop having a lower nitroglycerin concentration (possibly of a different color than the original lollipop), the patient may also maintain r relief from angina in a dose-to-effect manner over a ~~ -33- ~ ~35080 1 prolonged period of time while avoiding an overdose of nitroglycerin.
The nitroglycerin-containing lollipops of the present 5 invention are also particularly useful in reducing the amount of myocardial work, thereby helping to avoid cardiac failure during periods of cardiac stress. Because of the vasocilation action of the nitroglycerin, the present invention is also effective in the treatment of pulmonary edema. The lollipops can be used until the pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and- the venous pressure in the lS jugular veins are reduced to normal levels.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention has broad applicability and will be useful in a wide variety of situations. It provides a 20 useful alternative to the traditional routes of administration, and permits the physician extraordinary control over the dosage of the cardiovascular-acting or renal vascular-acting drug that is administered to a 25 patient.

Some of the more important features and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood by reference to a few illustrative examples:

The candy matrix or base for the drug-containing lollipop within the scope of the present invention is 5 advantageously prepared utilizing candy preparation formulas and techniques which are known in the prior art.
For example, a hard candy base is prepared by dissolving 50 grams of sucrose in 50 grams of water and heating the solution to about 240~F. Next, about 40 grams of corn syrup having a dextrose equivalent of 42 units, and a high maltose content (30%-35% maltose) is added, and the mixture 15 is cooked at about 300~F to reduce the water content to about three percent (3%). After recooling -the thickened candy mass to about 240~F, a suitable oil flavoring (e.q., lemon, cherry, or other flavor) is added.
Concurrently, a solution containing a soluble drug is prepared for incorporation into a candy matrix. In this example, the drug selected is timolol. Timolol is a potent, lipophilic beta-blocker which is useful as an anti-25 hypertensive and for protecting a patient with post-myocardial infraction. Its high po~ency and lipophilicity make it an excellent drug for transmucosal administration in accordance with the present invention. A suitable timolol solution is prepared by dissolving 400 milligrams r of timolol in four cubic centimeters of sterile water.

i339080 1 This timolol solution is mixed with 32 cubic centi-meters of the hot candy mass formed as set forth above, and the resultant mixture is gently mixed as it cools to about 5 225~F, taking care not to induce formation of air bubbles in the candy mass.
The solution is then poured into suitable molds having a 2.0 cubic centimeter capacity that have been prelubricated with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. A
four inch commercially available wax-coated compressed paper stick is next inserted into the base of each mold.
15 The mixture is then permitted to set.
The foregoing procedure results in the preparation of 20 lollipops, each containing 20 milligrams of timolol.
This dose is about two times higher than generally given 20 orally~

* * * *
The physician has at his disposal a large number of 25 vasodilating drugs useful for treating angina, congestive heart failure, vasospasm, and in some cases hypertension.
However, each of these vasodilating drugs also has serious side effects which present dangers when the proper dose for the patient is not given.
The examples which follow employ the use of certain vasodilating drugs which act as calcium channel blockers.

-1 The calcium channel blockers (such as diltiazem, nifedipine, and verapamil) dilate the coronary and systemic arteries. This is accomplished by inhibiting the 5 transmembrane influx of extracellular calcium ions across the membranes of the myocardial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Calcium plays important roles in the excitation-contraction coupling process of the heart and the vascular smooth muscle cells and in the electrical discharge of the specialized conduction cells of the heart.
Nevertheless, despite these advantages, an overdose of 15 a calcium channel blocker may lead to bradycardia, asymptomatic asystole, hypotension, congestive heart failure, anorexia, nausea, and hallucinations.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the 20 patient with any of these vasodilating drugs may result in serious side effects to the patient which may cause the patient great discomfort and, in some instances, may be so serious as to cause failure of vital organs resulting in 25 death.

The following examples demonstrate methods and compositions for safely administering such vasodilating drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that the undesirable and dangerous side effects which may result from overdosing " of these vasodilating drugs are avoided.

_37_ 1 3 39 080 1 Although the following examples only demonstrate the methods and compositions of the present invention as they relate to specific vasodilating drugs, it will be 5 appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipop from the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing.
15 Indeed, any vasodilating drug having the characteristics described above may be administered to a pati-ent according to the present invention.

In this example, nifedipine is selected for incorpora-tion into a compressed powder lollipop. Nifedipine is a potent lipophilic drug useful for controlling blood pres-25 sure, particularly in perioperative hypertension associated with cardiovascular procedures, and for producing controlled hypotension during surgical procedures. Its -38- ~339080 l high potency and lipophilicity make it an excellent drug for transmucosal administration in accordance with the present invention.
A suitable matrix is prepared by combining 200 milligrams of nifedipine, 400 milligrams citric acid, 400 milligrams calcium stearate, 17.7 grams compressible sugar, 17.7 grams maltodextrin, 600 milligrams peppermint micro-caps, 1.0 gram cherry microcaps, and 2.0 grams vanilla microcaps. Alloquats of 2000 milligrams each are then hydraulically compressed around a commercially available wax-coated compressed paper holder, using a force sufficient to provide a final~ volume of 2 cubic centimeters. The foregoing procedure results in the preparation of 20 lollipops, each containing 10 milligrams 20 Of nifedipine _ _39_ ~339080 According to the procedure of this example, the dose-to-effect administration of a nifedipine lollipop prepared 5 substantially according to the procedure of Example 2 is illustrated. A patient's blood pressure is taken upon entry into the operating room just before introduction of anesthesia for removal of a gall bladder. The blood pressure is 185/105 mm Hg (increased above a normal of 130/80 mm Hg because of anxiety). A lollipop containing 10 milligrams of nifedipine is given to the patient while the 15 anesthesiologist ad~usts other monitoring devices.
In two minutes, blood pressure is 160/95 mm Hg, and a minute later blood pressure is 145/90 mm Hg. Thirty seconds later, the anesthesiologist removes the lollipop 20 (when blood pressure is 132/82 mm Hg) and begins anesthetic induction. Because blood pressure is now normal, anesthetic induction is significantly safer than it would have been if induction had begun only three to four minutes 25 before. In addition, the patient has received just enough nifedipine to obtain the right blood pressure. Care must be taken that too much of the drug is not given, which could reduce blood pressure to dangerously low levels.

Alternatively, if too little of the drug is given, the blood pressure will not be reduced enough.

~ _40_ 1 3 3g 080 In the procedure of this example, a patient who is presently experiencing angina is given a drug-containing 5 lollipop, prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, in order to relieve immediately the anginal pain. In this example, nifedipine in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is used. The patient experiences some relief within 5 minutes after beginning to suck on the lollipop, and after about 10 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved. The nifedipine-containing lollipop 15 is then removed and discarded.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the 20 present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 1, except that the drug nifedipine in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is substituted for the timolol. The nifedipine-containing lollipop is used in the 25 procedure set forth in Example 3 ~or treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the candy matrix lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to the desired value at substantially the same rates as the compressed powder, nifedipine-containing lollipop of Example 3.

-41- ~339080 A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 5 the procedure of Example 1, except that the drug nifedipine in a lollipop dose of lO milligrams is substituted for the timolol. The nifedipine-containing, candy matrix lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences relief within approximately the same time parameters as the compressed powder, nifedipine-containing lollipop of Example 4.

lS EXAMPLE 7 A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug diltiazem 20 in a lollipop dose of 30 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The diltiazem-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, 25 the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the r present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug diltiazem l~9q8~
_ -42-1 in a lollipop dose of 50 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The diltiazem-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4, for rapid relief from 5 angina. The patient experiences some relief within 4 minutes, and after about 7 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 15 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug verapamil in a lollipop dose of 80 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The verapamil-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3, for treating a 20 patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

-43- 1 3 3g 080 A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 5 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug verapamil in a lollipop dose of 120 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The verapamil-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 5 minutes, and after about 8 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

In the procedure of this example, a patient who is presently experiencing supraventricular tachyarrhythmias is 20 given a drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention. The lollipop is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug verapamil in a lollipop dose of 200 milligrams is 25 substituted for nifedipine. Rapid conversion to normal sinus rhythm is observed, and the heart rate goes from about 200 beats per minute to about 80 beats per minute in about 3 minutes. The verapamil-containing lollipop is then removed and discarded.

* * * *

13~9080 The following examples describe the preparation and use of a drug-containing lollipop wherein the drug 5 dispersed within the lollipop is a beta-blocker. Some beta-blockers, such as esmolol, nadolol, pindolol, and timolol, reduce blood pressure by decreasing the heart rate or cardiac output. Other beta-blockers, such as atenolol and metoprolol, are known as cardioselective beta-blockers because they have a greater affinity for the beta, adrenoceptors that predominate in the heart than for the 15 beta2 receptors that predominate in the bronchi and peripheral vasculature. The cardioselective nature of these beta-blockers is lost if too great a dose is administered. The dose-to-effect modality of 20 administration of these beta-blockers described in the following examples enables the physician, other medical professional, or even the patient, in some cases, to administer a proper dose of these beta-blockers.
All beta-blockers, however, if administered in excess may result in impaired pulmonary function, wheezing, and asthmatic attacks. In addition, serious adverse cardiovascular effects such as ~bradycardia, profound hypotension, and even precipitation of severe congestive heart failure may result from the excess use of beta-blockers. Adverse central nervous system effects of _45_ 1339080 1 overdose of beta-blockers include dizziness, fatigue, mental depression, and in some cases hallucinations; short-term memory impairment and vertigo have also been observed.
5 There may also be adverse gastrointestinal reactions, such as diarrhea and nausea.
The following examples demonstrate that beta-blockers can be safely administered in a dose-to-effect manner thereby avoiding the harmful and undesirable side effects of overdosing and underdosing. Safe administration of beta-blockers is accomplished by the dose-to-effect 15 modality of administration described in the following examples wherein a precise dose of beta-blockers is administered to the patient.
Although the following examples only demonstrate the 20 methods and compositions of the present invention as they relate to specific drugs having a beta-blocking effect in the patient, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention.
25 What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired beta-blocking effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipop from the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing. Indeed, any beta-blocker having the characteristics described above may be '- -46- 1~39080 l administered to a patient according to the present inventlon .

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug esmolol in a lollipop dose of 5 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The esmolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient 15 with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug esmolol in 25 a lollipop dose of 6 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The esmolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 3 minutes, and after about 5 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

1~39080 A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 5 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug nadolol in a lollipop dose of 40 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The nadolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 20 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug nadolol in a lollipop dose of 80 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The nadolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 5 minutes, and after about 8 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to ~ -48- ~3~9080 1 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug propranolol in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The propranolol-containing 5 lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the 15 present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug propranolol in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The propranolol-containing 20 lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 2 minutes, and after about 8 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug pindolol in a lollipop dose of 5 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The pindolol-containing lollipop is used in _49_ 1339080 1 the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a 5 predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug pindolol in a lollipop dose of 6 milligrams is substituted for the 15 nifedipine. The pindolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 3 minutes, and after about 5 minutes the anginal pain is 20 substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the 25 present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 1. In this example, timolol in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is used. The timolol-containing, candy matrix lollipop is used in the procedure 30set forth in Example 5 for treating a patient with hyper-tension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the l339o8o ~

1 patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 1. In this example, timolol in a lollipop dose of 15 milligrams is used. The timolol-containing, candy matrix lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 6 for rapid relief from angina. The 15 patient experiences some relief within 3 minutes, and after about 5 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug timolol in 25 a lollipop dose of 20 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The timolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

l339o8o A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to S the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug timolol in a lollipop dose of 25 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The timolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 3 minutes, and after about 4 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop i~ accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 20 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug atenolol in a lollipop dose of 50 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The atenolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient 25 with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

_ -52-A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 5 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug atenolol in a lollipop dose of 80 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The atenolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 1 minute, and after about 3 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 20 the procedure of Example 1, except that the drug metoprolol in a lollipop dose of 25 milligrams is substituted for the timolol. The metoprolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient 25 with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 1 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug metoprolol in a lollipop dose of 40 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The metoprolol-containing lollipop is used in 5 the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from angina. The patient experiences some relief within 3 minutes, and after about 4.5 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

* * * *

Vasodilating drugs which may be administered according to the methods and compositions of the present invention include the organic nitrates, such as isosorbide and nitroglycerin.

Organic nitrates relax vascular smooth muscles. They are particularly useful for relief of angina pectoris, for prophylactic management of situations likely to provoke angina attacks, and for long-term prophylactic management 25 of angina pectoris. However, an overdose of isosorbide may result in headache, dizziness, nausea, tachycardia, hypotension, fainting, or other dangerous depressions of vital body functions.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the patient with any of these vasodilating drugs may result in serious side effects to the patient which may cause the 1 patient great discomfort and, in some instances, may be so serious as to cause dangerous depression of vital organs.
The following examples demonstrate methods and 5 compositions for safely administering such vasodilating drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that overdosing is avoided thereby avoiding the undesirable and dangerous side effects which may result from overdosing of these vasodilating drugs.
Although the following examples only demonstrate the methods and compositions of the present invention as they 15 relate to specific vasodilating drugs, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so 20 that the desired effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipop from the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing.
25 Indeed, any vasodilating drug having the characteristics described above may be administered to a patient according to the present invention.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 1 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug isosorbide in a lollipop dose of 2.5 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The isosorbide-containing lollipop is used in 5 the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 15 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug isosorbide in a lollipop dose of 20 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The isosorbide-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 4 for rapid relief from 20 angina. The patient experiences some relief within 1.5 minutes, and after about 3 minutes the anginal pain is substantially relieved.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given an isosorbide-containing lollipop as treatment for congestive heart failure. In this example, the isosorbide-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug isosorbide in a lollipop dose of 25 milligrams is substituted for 1 nifedipine. Shortly after initiating the administration of the isosorbide-containing lollipop, the patient's breathing rate decreases, and the patient no longer experiences a 5 shortness of breath. The patient's exercise tolerances increase, and the heart rate of the patient decreases. In addition, there is "ST wave" improvement in EKG. As the blood pressure decreases, the "ST segment" of the EKG
approaches normal.

A compressed powder lollipop containing nitroglycerin within the scope of the present invention was made according to the following procedures: A suitable matrix was prepared by combining 16 milligrams of nitroglycerin, 20 400 milligrams citric adic, 400 milligrams calcium stearate, 17.7 grams compressible sugar, 17.7 grams maltodextrin, 600 milligrams peppermint microcaps, 1.2 grams cherry microcaps, and 2.0 grams vanilla microcaps.
Alloquats of about 2 grams each were then hydraulically compressed around a commercially available wax-coated compressed paper holder using a force sufficient to provide a final volume of about 2 cubic centimeters.
This procedure resulted in the preparation of 20 lollipops, r each containing about 0.8 milligrams of nitroglycerin.

-57- ~339080 Example 32 According to the method of this example, a nitroglycerin-containing compressed powder lollipop made 5 according to the procedure of Example 31 was administered in a dose-to-effect manner in order to reduce a patient's blood pressure immediately prior to a surgical procedure.

Upon entry into the operating room prior to anesthesia induction for removal of a gall baldder, the patient's blood pressure was found to be 185/105 mm Hg (increased above an upper normal range of 130/80 mm Hg lS because of anxiety).
The nitroglycerin lollipop of Example 31 was given to the patient, while the anesthesiologist was adjusting other monitoring devices. In two minutes, the patient's blood 20 pressure had dropped to 160/95 mm Hg, and a minute later, the blood pressure was 145/90 mm Hg. Thirty seconds thereafter, the anesthesiologist removed the lollipop (when blood pressure is 132/82 mm Hg) and began anesthesia 25 induction.

Because the patient's blood pressure was then within normal ranges, anesthetic induction was significantly safer than it would have been if induction had begun only three to four minutes earlier. In addition, the patient received the proper amount of nitroglycerin to bring the blood pressure to the desired level without the danger of 133908~

1 receiving too much, which would have reduced the blood pressure to a dangerously low level, and without the danger of receiving too little, which would have not reduced the 5 blood pressure enough.

Example 33 According to the method of this example, a nitroglycerin-containing compressed powder lollipop made according to the procedure of Example 31 was administered to an adult patient in order to immediately reduce the 15 patient's blood pressure.
Before administration, the patient's blood pressure was 175/120 mm Hg. After three minutes of sucking on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure had decreased to 135/90 mm Hg. The nitroglycerin-containing lollipop was then removed and discarded.

Example 34 According to the method of this example, an adult patient is given a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop in order to rapidly reduce the patient's blood pressure similar to the procedure of Example 33. However, in this example, the nitroglycerin dose in the lollipop is 1.2 milligrams.

~ _59_ 1 3 39 0 80 1 The patient is permitted to suck on the lollipop until a sufficient dose of the nitroglycerin is received by the patient so that the patient's blood pressure is 5 decreased to the desired level. The nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is then removed and discarded.

Example 35 According to the method of this example, an adult patient is given a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop in order to rapidly reduce the patient's blood pressure 15 similar to the procedure of Example 34. However, in this example, the nitroglycerin dose in the lollipop is 0.4 milligrams.
The patient is permitted to suck on the lollipop 20 until a sufficient dose of the nitrogycerin is received by the patient so that the patient's blood pressure is decreased to the desired level. The patient then continues to suck the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop at a much 25 reduced rate and even removes the lollipop periodically in order to maintain blood pressure within normal ranges.

Example 36 According to the method of this example, an adult patient who is presently experiencing anginal pain is given a nitrogycerin-containing lollipop in order to rapidly _ -60- 1339080 1 relieve the anginal pain. In this example, a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop manufactured according to the procedures of Example 31 is given to the patient.
Within one minute, the patient experiences some relief from angina, after two minutes, the anginal pain is relieved. The nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is then removed and discarded.

Example 37 According to the method of this example, an adult patient is given a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop in order to rapidly relieve anginal pain similar to the procedure of Example 36. However, in this example, the nitroglycerin dose in the lollipop of 1.2 milligrams is used.
The patient is permitted to take a sufficient dose of the nitroglycerin so that the anginal pain is relieved.

The nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is then removed and 25 discarded.

Example 38 According to the method of this example, an adult patient is given a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop in order to rapidly relieve anginal pain similar to the procedure of Example 36. However, in this example, the 1 nitroglycerin dose in the lollipop of 0.4 milligrams is used.
The patient is permitted to take a sufficient dose of 5 the nitroglycerin so that the anginal pain is relieved.
After the anginal pain is relieved and the lollipop is removed and discarded, a second lollipop is of a different color than the first lollipop and is used to maintain a desired anti-anginal condition.

Example 39 According to the method of this example, a patient who is experiencing pulmonary edema is given a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop in order to rapidly relieve the effects of the pulmonary edema. In this 20 example, a nitroglycerin-containing lollipop manufactured according to the procedures of Example 31 is given to the patient.
Within a few minutes, the patient's head and neck is 25 noticeably less swollen and the patient's breathing rate begins to slow down. Continued administration of the nitroglycerin lollipop slows down the heart, and the patient becomes less anxious. Once the pulmonary edema episode passes, which can be determined by monitoring the reduction in the pulmonary arterial wedge pressure and the _ -62- 1339080 1 venous pressure of the jugular vein, the lollipop is then removed and discarded.

* * * *

The following examples describe the preparation and use of a drug-containing lollipop wherein the drug dispersed within the lollipop is a hypotensive drug which reduces blood pressure by lowering the total peripheral resistance by direct vasodilation. Hypotensive drugs of 15 this nature, such as nitroprusside and hydralazine, are particularly potent and are usually given in an emergency or when other hypotensive treatments have failed. Slight overdoses of this type of hypotensive drug may result in 20 headache, tachycardia, nausea, and diarrhea, and may even precipitate angina pectoris or ventricular arrhythmia.
Still other hypotensive drugs, such as prazosin, are alpha1-blockers which are also capable of reducing blood 25 pressure by lowering the total peripheral resistance as a result of vasodilating effects. An overdose of prazosin may result in headache, drowsiness, palpitation, nausea, and even fainting.

Labetolol is a unique hypotensive drug which combines the features of alpha-blockers with beta-blockers. Blood pressure is reduced due to a decrease in systemic vascular _ -63- 1 339 080 1 resistance, but usually without a substantial reduction or increase in heart rate, cardiac output, or stroke volume.
~ Unfortunately, labetolol shares the toxic potentials of 5 both the beta and the alpha-blocking agents. In particular, labetolol overdose may promote or exacerbate congestive heart failure, bronchospasm, hypotension, and bradycardia.

Other hypotensive drugs, such as methyldopa and clonidine, inhibit sympathetic vasomotor centers thereby reducing peripheral central nervous system activity, blood 15 pressure, and heart rate with little change in total peripheral resistance. An overdose of these drugs may result in drowsiness, headache, nausea, dry mouth, palpitation and tachycardia, bradycardia, congestive heart 20 failure, rash, impotence, hepatic abnormalities, and muscle cramps.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the patient with any of these hypotensive drugs may result in 25 serious side effects to the patient which may cause the patient great discomfort and, in some instances, may be so serious as to cause failure of vital organs resulting in death.

The following examples demonstrate methods and compositions for safely administering such hypotensive drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that the undesirable _ -64- 1339080 1 and dangerous side effects which may result from overdosing of these hypotensive drugs are avoided.
Although the following examples only demonstrate the 5 methods and compositions of the present invention as they relate to specific hypotensive drugs, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipopfrom the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing.
Indeed, any hypotensive drug having the characteristics described above may be administered to a patient according to the present invention.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug clonidine in a lollipop dose of 0.1 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The clonidine-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, _ -65- 1 339080 1 the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a clonidine-containing lollipop as treatment for hyperten-sion. In this example, the clonidine-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug clonidine in a lollipop dose of 0.2 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine.
15 Substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug hydralizine in a lollipop dose of lO milligrams is 25 substituted for the nifedipine. The hydralizine-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

1 ExAMpLE 43 In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a hydralizine-containing lollipop as treatment for 5 hypertension. In this example, the hydralizine-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug hydralizine in a lollipop dose of 20 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine. Substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a nitroprusside-containing lollipop as treatment for hyper-tension. In this example, the nitroprusside-containing 20 lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug nitroprusside in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine. The patient's blood pressure decreases by 25 about 20 mm Hg after one minute, and by lOmm Hg more, at which time the lollipop is removed.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the 7; present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug methyldopa ~ -67- 1339080 1 in a lollipop dose of 250 milligrams is substituted for~ the nifedipine. The methyldopa-containlng lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a methyldopa-containing lollipop as treatment for hyperten-sion. In this example, the methyldopa-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug methyldopa in a lollipop dose of 400 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine.
Substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a methyldopa-conntaining lollipop as treatment for 5 hypertension. In this example, the methyldopa-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 1, except that the drug methyldopa in a lollipop dose of 400 milligrams is substituted for timolol. As the patient sucks on the candy matrix lollipop, substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 20 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug prazosin in a lollipop dose of 3 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The prazosin-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient 25 with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a prazosin-containing lollipop as treatment for hyperten-_ -69- ~339080 1 sion. In this example, the prazosin-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug prazosin in a lollipop dose of 4 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine. The patient's blood pressure decreases by about 20 mm Hg after one minute, and by 10 mm Hg more, at which time the lollipop is removed.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a prazosin-containing lollipop as treatmént for hypertension. In this example, the prazosin-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 1, except that the drug prazosin in a lollipop dose of 4 milligrams is substituted for timolol.
As the patient sucks on the candy matrix lollipop, substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

-70_ 1 3 39 080 A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to 5 the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug labetolol in a lollipop dose of 100 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The labetolol-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a labetolol-containing lollipop as treatment for hyperten-20 sion. In this example, the labetolol-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug labetolol in a lollipop dose of 200 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine.
25 Substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

* * * *

rThe following examples describe the preparation and use of a drug-containing lollipop wherein the drug 13~9080 _ -71-1 dispersed within the lollipop is a hypotensive drug which reduces blood pressure by suppressing the renin-angio-tensin-aldosterone system. These drugs inhibit the 5 angiotensin-converting enzyme thereby resulting in arterial and possibly venous dilation. Thus, blood pressure is reduced by decreasing the total peripheral resistance with no change or an increase in heart rate, stroke volume, or cardiac output.
These ACE-inhibiting drugs, if administered in excess, may also result in neutro-penia, an abnormally low white 15 blood cell count, which may further lead to systemic or regional infections and possible death. Other adverse effects from overdosing of ACE inhibitors include proteinuria, rash, taste impairment, excessive hypotension, 20 tachycardia, angina, palpitations, and even myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the patient with any of these hypotensive drugs may result in serious side effects to the patient which may cause the patient great discomfort and, in some instances, may be so serious as to cause loss of vital organs resulting in death.
The following examples demonstrate methods and compositions for safely administering such hypotensive drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that overdosing is _ -72- 1 3 39 080 1 avoided thereby avoiding the undesirable and dangerous side effects which may result from overdosing.
Although the following examples only demonstrate the 5 methods and compositions of the present invention as they relate to specific hypotensive drugs, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-15 administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipopfrom the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing.
Indeed, any hypotensive drug having the characteristics described above may be administered to a patient according 20 to the present invention.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the 25 present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug captopril in a lollipop dose of 25 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The captopril-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, 1 the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

In the procedure of this example, a patient is given a captopril-containing lollipop as treatment for hyperten-sion. In this example, the captopril-containing lollipop was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug captopril in a lollipop dose of 70 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine.
Substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug enalapril in a lollipop dose of 5 milligrams is substituted for the nifedipine. The enalapril-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 3 for treating a patient with hypertension. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, the patient's blood pressure is rapidly lowered to a predetermined value.

1 In the procedure of this example, a patient is given an enalapril-containing lollipop as treatment for hyperten-sion. In this example, the enalapril-containing lollipop 5 was prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug enalapril in a lollipop dose of lO milligrams is substituted for nifedipine.

Substantially the same effects as those set forth in Example 40 are observed.

* * * *

The physician also has at his disposal~ a number of cardiac drugs useful for treating ventricular fibrillation, acute ventricular arrhythmias, and congestive heart 20 failure. Again, these drugs, while useful, can be very dangerous when the patient's susceptability to the drug makes it difficult to know the proper dose.
Amrinone, for example, is an inotropic drug which 25 increases the force and velocity of myocardial systolic contraction. In addition, amrinone has vasodilatory activity affecting vascular smooth muscle. In patients with congestive heart failure, amrinone produces substantial increases in cardiac output.
However, serious adverse effects may arise in the event of an overdose of amrinone; these adverse effects ~ -75- 1 339080 1 include: thrombocytopenia, arrhythmias, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatotixicity marked by abnormal liver function, and hypersensitivity.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the patient with these cardiac drugs may result in serious side effects to the patient which may cause the patient great discomfort.
The following example demonstrates methods and compositions for safely administering such cardiac drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that overdosing is avoided 15 thereby avoiding the undesirable and dangerous sidé effects which may result from overdosing of these cardiac drugs.
Although the following example only demonstrates the methods and compositions of the present invention as it 20 relates to amrinone, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired 25 effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipop from the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing. Indeed, any cardiac drug having the characteristics described above may be administered to a patient according to the present invention.

_ -76- 1339080 A drug-containing lollipop in accordance with the 5 present invention is prepared substantially according to the procedure of Example 2, except that the drug amrinone in a lollipop dose of 50 milligrams is substituted for the timolol. The amrinone-containing lollipop is used in the procedure set forth in Example 30 for treating a patient with congestive heart failure. As the patient sucks on the lollipop, substantially the same effects as those set forth 15 with respect to Example 41 are observed.

Anti-arrhythmic drugs, such as bretylium and lidocaine, may also be safely administered to a patient 20 according to the methods and compositions of the present invention as is demonstrated in the following examples.
Bretylium and lidocaine are well-known anti-arrhythmic drugs. Bretylium is used in the prophylaxis and treatment 25 of ventricular fibrillation. However, because it commonly causes hypotension, and may increase ventricular irrita-bility, bretylium must be used with care. Lidocaine is a CNS-depressing drug which controls ventricular arrhythmias.
It also produces sedative, analgesic, and anti-convulsant ,.

_ -77~ 1339080 1 effects. Overdoses may result in seizures, respiratory arrest, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness, or even coma.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the 5 patient with any anti-arrhythmic drugs may result in undesirable side effects to the patient which may cause the patient great discomfort.

The following examples demonstrate methods and compositions for safely administering such anti-arrhythmic drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that overdosing is avoided thereby avoiding the undesirable and dangerous side effects which may result from overdosing of thése anti-arrihythmic drugs.
Although the following examples only demonstrate the methods and compositions of the present invention as they relate to specific anti-arrhythmlc drugs, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipop from the patient's mouth in time to prevent overdosing.
Indeed, any anti-arrhythmic drug having the characteristics ~ -78- 1 339080 1 described above may be administered to a patient according to the present invention.

In the procedure of this example, a patient exper-iencing ventricular fibrillation is given a bretylium-containing lollipop. In this example, the lollipop is 10prepared substantially according ~to the procedure of Example 2 except that the drug bretylium in a lollipop dose of 60 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine. Rapid 15 conversion to normal sinus rhythm is observed. The bretylium-containing lollipop is removed and~discarded.

In the procedure of this example, a patient experi-encing acute ventricular arrhythmias is given a lidocaine-containing lollipop. In this example, the lollipop is prepared substantially according to the procedure of 25 Example 2 except that the drug lidocaine in a lollipop dose of 10 milligrams is substituted for nifedipine. Rapid conversion to normal sinus rhythm is observed. The lidocaine-containing lollipop is removed and discarded.

7~

~79~ 1339080 In the procedures of these examples, drug-containing lollipops in accordance with the present invention are 5 prepared according to the procedures of Example 1, except that the following drugs are dispersed in the "candy"
matrix in the indicated doses and are substituted for the timolol.

Table II
Example ~y~ Dose Diltiazem 30 milligrams 61 Pindolol ~5 milligrams 62 Metoprolol 25 milligrams 63 Prazosin 3 milligrams 64 Methyldopa 250 milligrams In the procedures of these examples, drug-containing lollipops in accordance with the present invention are prepared according to the procedures of Example 1, except that the following drugs are dispersed in the "candy"
matrix in the indicated doses and are substituted for the timolol.

..

1 Table III
Example Druq Dose Diltiazem50 milligrams 66 Pindolol6 milligrams 67 Metoprolol40 milligrams These drug-containing lollipops are used in the proce-10 dure set forth in Example 4 in order to relieve immediate anginal pain. As the patient sucks on the candy matrix lollipop, the patient's experiences relief from anginal pain at substantially the same rates as the respective com-15 pressed-powder, drug-containing lollipops of Examples 8, 21, and 27.

* * * *

In addition to drugs for treating cardiovascular conditions, many new drugs for treatment of renal vascular 25 functions have been developed in recent years. Like most drugs affecting the cardiovascular system, the drugs affecting the renal vascular system must be precisely administered to avoid serious side effects or the dangers 30 of overdosing and underdosing.
One of the most useful drugs employed today for increasing renal blood flow and urine output is dopamine.

In its clinical application, dopamine is administered until _ -81- 1339080 1 urine output is significantly increased or approaches a normal stage. Despite its benefits, the detriment of using too much dopamine is reflected in increases in the heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and myocardial oxygen consumption. These effects are extremely dangerous in patients with ischemic cardiac disease. Hence, precise dosage control is critical to the effective use of dopamine.
Thus, it will be appreciated that overdosing the patient with any of these renal vascular-acting drugs may result in serious side effects to the patient which may cause the patient great discomfort and, in some instances, may be so serious as to cause failure of vital organs resulting in death.

The following examples demonstrate methods and compositions for safely administering such renal vascular-acting drugs in a dose-to-effect manner such that overdosing is avoided thereby avoiding the undesirable and dangerous side effects which may result from overdosing.
Although the following examples only demonstrate the methods and compositions of the present invention as they relate to dopamine, it will be appreciated that other drugs may also be utilized within the scope of the present invention. What is important is that the drug be lipophilic, potent, and fast-acting so that the desired 1 effects can be observed by the medical professional (or the patient himself if the drug is self-administered) in sufficient time to remove the lollipop from the patient's 5 mouth in time to prevent overdosing. Indeed, any renal vascular-acting drug having the characteristics described above may be administered to a patient according to the present invention.

In the procedure of this example, a patient who is 15 presently experiencing oliguria is given a dopamine-containing lollipop in order to immediately increase the patient's urine output. The lollipop of this example is made according to the procedures of Example 2, except that 20 dopamine in a lollipop dose of 350 milligrams is used instead of nifedipine.
After the patient is permitted to suck on the lollipop for only a matter of a few minutes, the urine output is 25 increased with no change in the heart rate of blood pressure.

In the procedure of this example, a patient who is presently experiencing insufficient urine output is given a dopamine-containing lollipop according to the procedures of Example 68, except that the dopamine is in a lollipop dose of 700 milligrams.
After the patient is permitted to suck on the lollipop for only a few minutes, the urine output is increased with no change in the heart rate or blood pressure.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention allows great flexibility and permits physician control on a case-by-case basis with respect to the dose given to a particular patient and the rate at 15 which that dose is given.
The use of a drug-containing lollipop for administra-tion of cardiovascular-acting and renal vascular-acting agents provides for much faster onset than oral 20 administration and also avoids unacceptable loss of drug on a first pass through the liver before systemic distribution. Further, the use of a lollipop in accordance with the present invention provides for a relatively level 25 drug plasma concentration, which is preferable when dealing with cardiovascular and renal vascular related drugs.
Further, a physician can easily monitor a patient's condition to ensure the patient receives a dose adequate to evoke a desired cardiovascular state. If necessary, the physician can instruct the patient to alter the aggressive-_ -84- i 339 080 ness with which he sucks the lollipop, or the physician can take the lollipop from the patient.
A patient can also self-administer suitable anti-anginal medication using a lollipop in accordance with the present invention. Thus, a patient can place a drug-containing lollipop passively in his mouth for continuous low level administration of a drug, or the patient can take a lick of the lollipop from time to time as it may be needed to reduce his own subjective experience of the symptoms of the cardiovascular or renal vascular condition.
Although the methods and compositions of thé present invention have been described with reference to specific examples, it is to be understood that the methods and compositions of the present invention may be practiced in 20 other forms without parting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described methods and compositions are considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims (101)

1. The use of a soluble matrix material in the form of a lollipop into which a drug has been dispersed for inducing rapidly a predetermined systemic modification of cardiovascular or renal vascular functions in a patient in a dose-to-effect manner while modifying the rate of dissolution of the drug-containing lollipop in response to the predetermined systemic modification, wherein the cardiovascular or renal vascular functions of the patient are susceptible to the drug and wherein said soluble matrix material is a carbohydrate mass capable of releasing the drug for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.

2. The use of claim 1 wherein the drug has been dispersed in the soluble matrix material for inducing, when sucked, an initial rapid dissolution of the lollipop to cause relatively high quantities of the drug to be absorbed into the patient's bloodstream and thereby rapidly to obtain the desired modification of cardiovascular function, and for thereafter inducing, when sucked as needed, a maintenance of the desired cardiovascular effect.

3. The use of claim 2 wherein the lollipop is for relatively passive maintenance in the patient's mouth after the desired modification of cardiovascular function is obtained, and for maintenance of said desired modification of cardiovascular function.

4. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is an antiarrhythmic agent and wherein the said use is also for inducing in a dose-to-effect manner a regular heartbeat in the patient.

5. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is a hypotensive agent, and wherein the said use is also for inducing in a dose-to-effect manner the lowering of a patient's blood pressure to a desired level.

6. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is a vasodilator.

7. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is an anti-anginal agent, and wherein the use is also for inducing, in a dose-to-effect manner, substantial elimination of the patient's pain from the angina.

8. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is an inotropic agent.

9. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is a calcium channel blocking agent which, when administered in a does-to-effect manner, is an antiarrhythmic, hypotensive, vasodilator, and anti-anginal agent.

10. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is an organic nitrate which, when administered in a dose-to-effect manner, is a hypotensive, vasodilator, and anti-anginal agent.

11. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent which, when administered in a dose-to-effect manner, is an antiarrhythmic, hypotensive, and anti-anginal agent.

12. The use of claim 4, wherein the antiarrhythmic agent is bretylium and the dosage of bretylium dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 50 milligrams to about 500 milligrams of bretylium equivalent.

13. The use of claim 4, wherein the antiarrhythmic agent is lidocaine and the dosage of lidocaine dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 50 milligrams to about 250 milligrams of lidocaine equivalent.

14. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is prazosin and the dosage of prazosin dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 2 milligrams to about 10 milligrams of prazosin equivalent.

15. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is labetolol and the dosage of labetolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 100 milligrams to about 400 milligrams of labetolol equivalent.

16. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is methyldopa and the dosage of methyldopa dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 250 milligrams to about 750 milligrams of methyldopa equivalent.

17. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is nitroprusside and the dosage of nitroprusside dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 10 milligrams to about 50 milligrams of nitroprusside equivalent.

18. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is clonidine and the dosage of clonidine dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 0.1 milligrams to about 0.5 milligrams of clonidine equivalent.

19. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is hydralazine and the dosage of hydralazine dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 10 milligrams to about 75 milligrams of hydralazine equivalent.

20. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is captopril and the dosage of captopril dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 25 milligrams to about 75 milligrams of captopril equivalent.

21. The use of claim 5, wherein the hypotensive drug is enalapril and the dosage of enalapril dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 5 milligrams to about 15 milligrams of enalapril equivalent.

22. The use of claim 11, wherein the beta-adrenergic blocking agent is esmolol and the dosage of esmolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 25 milligrams to about 250 milligrams of esmolol equivalent.

23. The use of claim 11, wherein the beta-adrenergic blocking agent is nadolol and the dosage of nadolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 40 milligrams to about 160 milligrams of nadolol equivalent.

24. The use of claim 11, wherein the beta-adrenergic blocking agent is pindolol and the dosage of pindolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 5 milligrams to about 15 milligrams of pindolol equivalent.

25. The use of claim 11, wherein the beta-adrenergic blocking agent is timolol and the dosage of timolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 10 milligrams to about 50 milligrams of timolol equivalent.

26. The use of claim 11, wherein the beta-adrenergic blocking agent is atenolol and the dosage of atenolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 50 milligrams to about 150 milligrams of atenolol equivalent.

27. The use of claim 11, wherein the beta-adrenergic blocking agent is metoprolol and the dosage of metoprolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 25 milligrams to about 100 milligrams of metoprolol equivalent.

28. The use of claim 9, wherein the calcium channel blocking agent is diltiazem and the dosage of diltiazem dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 30 milligrams to about 120 milligrams of diltiazem equivalent.

29. The use of claim 9, wherein the calcium channel blocking agent is nifedipine and the dosage of nifedipine dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 10 milligrams to about 40 milligrams of nifedipine equivalent.

30. The use of claim 9, wherein the calcium channel blocking agent is verapamil and the dosage of verapamil dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 80 milligrams to about 240 milligrams of verapamil equivalent.

31. The use of claim 10, wherein the organic nitrate drug is isosorbide and the dosage of isosorbide dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 2.5 milligrams to about 40 milligrams of isosorbide equivalent.

32. The use of claim 8, wherein the inotropic drug is amrinone and the dosage of amrinone dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 50 milligrams to about 100 milligrams of amrinone equivalent.

33. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is esmolol and the dosage of esmolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 25 milligrams to about 250 milligrams of esmolol equivalent.

34. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is nadolol and the dosage of nadolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 40 milligrams to about 160 milligrams of nadolol equivalent.

35. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is pindolol and the dosage of pindolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 5 milligrams to about 15 milligrams of pindolol equivalent.

36. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is timolol and the dosage of timolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 10 milligrams to about 50 milligrams of timolol equivalent.

37. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is atenolol and the dosage of atenolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 50 milligrams to about 150 milligrams of atenolol equivalent.

38. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is diltiazem and the dosage of diltiazem dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 30 milligrams to about 120 milligrams of diltiazem equivalent.

39. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is nifedipine and the dosage of nifedipine dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 10 milligrams to about 40 milligrams of nifedipine equivalent.

40. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is verapamil and the dosage of verapamil dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 80 milligrams to about 240 milligrams of verapamil equivalent.

41. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is isosorbide and the dosage of isosorbide dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 2.5 milligrams to about 40 milligrams of isosorbide equivalent.

42. The use of claim 7, wherein the anti-anginal agent is metoprolol and the dosage of metaprolol dispersed in the matrix is in the range from 25 milligrams to about 100 milligrams of metoprolol equivalent.

43. The use of claim 1, wherein the soluble matrix material is a compressed carbohydrate mass.

44. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug-containing lollipop is also for intermittent removal from the patient's mouth to prevent an excessive amount of drug from being absorbed through the mucosal tissues into the patient's bloodstream.

45. The use of claim 1, wherein the lollipop includes an inner matrix containing the drug in a suitable concentration for maintaining the desired cardiovascular effect, and an outer matrix covering the inner matrix, said outer matrix containing the drug in a suitable concentration for rapidly inducing the desired cardiovascular effect.

46. The use of claim 1, wherein a first drug-containing lollipop is for initial administration to the patient in order to rapidly induce a desired cardiovascular effect, and a second drug-containing lollipop is for later administration to maintain the desired cardiovascular effect.

47. The use of claim 46, wherein the first drug-containing lollipop and the second drug-containing lollipop are of different colors in order to be easily distinguished from one another.

48. The use of claim 1, wherein the drug dispersed in the lollipop is dopamine and the dosage of dopamine dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 350 micrograms to about 700 micrograms of dopamine equivalent.

49. The use of a soluble matrix material in the form of a lollipop into which a drug has been dispersed for inducing rapidly a predetermined systemic modification of cardiovascular or renal vascular functions in a patient in a dose-to-effect manner, wherein the drug is verapamil, wherein the cardiovascular or renal vascular functions of the patient are susceptible to the drug and wherein said soluble matrix material is a carbohydrate mass capable of releasing the drug for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.

50. The use of claim 1, wherein the lollipop is also for use in modifying the rate of dissolution of the lollipop including terminating use of the drug-containing lollipop in the patient.

51. The use of claim 1, wherein the lollipop is also for use by a medical professional for controlling the rate of dissolution of the drug-containing lollipop.

52. The use of claim 1, wherein the lollipop is also for use by the patient for control of the rate of dissolution of the drug-containing lollipop.

53. A composition for use in inducing a predetermined rapid systemic modification of cardiovascular functions in a patient, said composition comprising:

an effective dose of a drug in substantially powdered form capable of being absorbed through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus, and capable of rapidly inducing a predetermined systemic modification of cardiovascular functions in the patient;

a soluble matrix material, being a soluble, compressible, substantially powdered carbohydrate material, the drug being dispersed substantially uniformly within the matrix due to mixing the drug and carbohydrate material at a temperature below the melting points of the drug and the carbohydrate material so that the drug released for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus as the matrix dissolves when placed in a patient's mouth; and holder means secured to the drug-containing matrix, said holder means being configured so as to permit convenient insertion of the drug-containing matrix into the mouth of a patient, and convenient removal thereof when a desired condition is obtained.

54. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the holder means is a stick with an enlarged end to prevent it from getting caught in the patient's mouth.

55. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the dosage of drug dispersed in the soluble matrix material is in the range of from about 1 to about 50 times greater than the dosage that would be given by intravenous injection.

56. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the drug is antiarrythmic.

57. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the drug is hypotensive.

58. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the drug is a vasodilator.

59. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the drug is an anti-anginal agent.

60. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the drug is inotropic.

61. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the vasodilator is a calcium channel blocking agent.

62. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the vasodilator is an organic nitrate.

63. A composition as defined in claim 57, wherein the hypotensive drug is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent.

64. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the drug-containing matrix includes an inner matrix containing drug in a suitable concentration for maintaining the desired cardiovascular, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, or anti-anginal effect, and an outer matrix covering the inner matrix, said outer matrix containing drug in a suitable concentration for rapidly inducing the desired cardiovascular, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, or anti-anginal effect.

65. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the soluble matrix material is a mixture of maltodextrin and compressible sugar in a ratio in the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:4.

66. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the soluble matrix material included flavoring in order to mask the flavor of the drug.

67. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the soluble matrix material includes a hydrophobic material such that the matrix material becomes less soluble when placed in the patient's mouth.

68. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the soluble matrix material includes a coloring agent.

69. A composition as defined in claim 53, wherein the holder means is secured to the drug-containing matrix material by compressing the matrix material around a portion of the holder means such that the matrix material remains cohesively secured to the holder means.

70. The use of a soluble matrix material in the form of a lollipop into which nitroglycerin has been dispersed for inducing systemically a cardiovascular effect in a patient in a dose-to-effect manner, wherein the patient is susceptible to a cardiovascular effect from nitroglycerin, and wherein the soluble matrix material is a carbohydrate mass capable of releasing the nitroglycerin for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.

71. The use of claim 1 wherein the lollipop is for inducing, when sucked, an initial rapid dissolution of the lollipop to cause relatively high quantities of the nitroglycerin to be absorbed into the patient's bloodstream and thereby rapidly to obtain the desired cardiovascular effect, and for thereafter inducing, when sucked as needed, a maintenance of the desired cardiovascular effect.

72. The use of claim 70, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is also for administration to a hypertensive patient in a does-to-effect manner until the patient's blood pressure is within an acceptable range.

73. The use of claim 70, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is also for administration in a dose-to-effect manner to a patient experiencing a pulmonary edema episode, until the pulmonary edema episode passes.

74. The use of claim 70, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the matrix is in the range from about 0.2 milligrams to about 1.2 milligrams of nitroglycerin equivalent.

75. The use of claim 70, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the matrix is from about 0.6 milligrams to about 1.0 milligram of nitroglycerin equivalent.

76. The use of claim 70, wherein the soluble matrix material in the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is a compressed carbohydrate mass.

77. The use of claim 70, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is also for intermittent removal from the patient's mouth to prevent an excessive amount of nitroglycerin from being absorbed through the mucosal tissues into the patient's bloodstream.

78. The use of claim 71, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is also for use in being maintained relatively passively in the patient's mouth after the desired effect is obtained in order to maintain such desired effect.

79. The use of claim 70, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop includes an inner matrix containing nitroglycerin in a suitable concentration for maintaining the desired cardiovascular effect, and an outer matrix covering the inner matrix, said outer matrix containing nitroglycerin in a suitable concentration for rapidly inducing the desired cardiovascular effect.

80. The use of claim 70, wherein a first nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is for initial administration to the patient in order to rapidly induce a desired effect, and a second nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is for later administration to maintain the desired effect.

81. The use of claim 80, wherein the first nitroglycerin-containing lollipop and the second nitroglycerin-containing lollipop are of different colors in order to be easily distinguished from one another.

82. The use of a soluble matrix material in the form of a lollipop into which nitroglycerin has been dispersed for inducing relief from anginal pain in a patient in a dose-to-effect manner, wherein the patient is susceptible to anginal pain relief from nitroglycerin, and wherein the soluble matrix material is a carbohydrate mass capable of releasing the nitroglycerin for absorption through mucosal tissues of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus.

83. The use of claim 82, wherein the soluble matrix material in the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is a compressed carbohydrate mass.

84. The use of claim 82, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is also for intermittent removal from the patient's mouth in order to prevent an excessive amount of nitroglycerin from being absorbed through the mucosal tissues in to the patient's bloodstream.

85. The use of claim 82, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is also for selective passive or more aggressive sucking by the patient and wherein the said lollipop is used, in the latter case, in response to increased anginal pain levels to provide relief from such increased levels of anginal pain.

86. The use of claim 82, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the soluble matrix is in the range of from about 1 to about 50 times greater than the dosage that would be given by intravenous injections.

87. The use of claim 82, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the matrix is from about 0.2 milligrams to about 1.2 milligrams of nitroglycerin equivalent.

88. The use of claim 82, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the matrix is from about 0.6 milligrams to about 0.8 milligrams of nitroglycerin equivalent.

89. The use of claim 82, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing lollipop includes an inner matrix containing nitroglycerin in a suitable concentration for maintaining the desired cardiovascular effect, and an outer matrix covering the inner matrix, said outer matrix containing nitroglycerin in a suitable concentration for rapidly inducing the desired cardiovascular effect.

90. The use of claim 82, wherein a first nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is for initial administration to the patient in order to rapidly induce a desired cardiovascular effect, and a second nitroglycerin-containing lollipop is for later administration to maintain the desired cardiovascular effect.

91. The use of claim 90, wherein the first nitroglycerin-containing lollipop and the second nitroglycerin-containing lollipop are of different colors in order to be easily distinguished from one another.

92. A composition for use in systemically inducing a cardiovascular, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, or anti-anginal effect in a patient, said composition comprising:
an effective dose of nitroglycerin in substantially powdered form capable of being absorbed through mucosal tissue and capable of systemically inducing the desired cardiovascular, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, or anti-anginal condition in the patient;
a soluble matrix material, being a soluble, compressible, substantially powdered carbohydrate material into which the nitroglycerin is substantially uniformly dispersed due to mixing the nitroglycerin and carbohydrate material at a temperature below the melting points of the nitroglycerin and the carbohydrate material such that the nitroglycerin is released for absorption through the mucosal tissues as the matrix dissolves when placed in a patient's mouth; and holder means secured to the nitroglycerin-containing matrix, said holder means being configured so as to provide for dose-to-effect administration of the nitroglycerin by permitting convenient insertion of the nitroglycerin-containing matrix into the mouth of a patient, and convenient removal thereof when the predetermined condition is obtained.

93. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the holder means is a stick with an enlarged end to prevent it from getting caught in the patient's mouth.

94. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the soluble matrix is from about 0.2 milligrams to about 1.2 milligrams of nitroglycerin equivalent.

95. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the dosage of nitroglycerin dispersed in the soluble matrix is from about 0.6 milligrams to about 1.0 milligrams of nitroglycerin equivalent.

96. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the nitroglycerin-containing matrix includes an inner matrix containing nitroglycerin in a suitable concentration for maintaining the desired cardiovascular, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, or anti-anginal effect, and an outer matrix covering the inner matrix, said outer matrix containing nitroglycerin in a suitable concentration for rapidly inducing the desired cardiovascular, vasodilating, anti-hypertensive, or anti-anginal effect.

97. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the soluble matrix material is a mixture of maltodextrin and compressible sugar in a ratio in the range from about 1:1 to about 1:4.

98. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the soluble matrix material includes flavoring in order to mask the flavor of the nitroglycerin.

99. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the soluble matrix material includes a hydrophobic material such that the matrix material becomes less soluble when placed in the patient's mouth.

100. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the soluble matrix material includes a coloring agent.

101. A composition as defined in claim 92, wherein the holder means is secured to the nitroglycerin-containing matrix material by compressing the matrix material around a portion of the holder means such that the matrix material remains cohesively secured to the holder means.