COMPOSITION CONTAINING SUCRAFATE AND A TOPICAL ANESTHETIC FOR HUMANS AND ANIMALS AND METHOD
OF USE THEREOF
Description
Technical Field
The instant invention relates generally to compositions for treating skin ulcers
and particularly to compositions for medical or veterinary use containing sucralfate in
combination with a topical anesthetic for treating a variety of medical conditions.
Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention comprises a composition and method of treating plurality
of conditions utilizes a combination of sucralfate and a topical anesthetic such as
lidocaine. The composition finds utility in treating the symptoms of d from herpes,
acne, psoriasis, eczema, diabetic ulcers, bed sores, shingles, jock itch, athlete's foot,
ringworm, and other dermal conditions and to relieve irritations and discomfort caused
by poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, bedsores, soar throats, surgical incisions and
skin ulcers on humans, animals and mange. The composition also finds utility in
preventing the development of nascent herpes outbreaks into herpes ulcers, in addition
to providing long-lasting relief from such symptoms. Gargling with the composition is
effective in relieving sore throats and minor throat irritations.
Rief Description of the Drawing Figures
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present
invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
FIG. 1 illustrates the chemical structure for sucralfate.
FIG. 2 illustrates the chemical structure for lidocaine.
The reference numbers utilized in the drawing figures are defined as follows:
10 chemical structure for sucralfate as an aluminum complex
12 non-complexed portion of 10
14 identification of R-groups of 12 as -SO3Al(OH)2
16 aluminum complex portion of 10
18 definition of x and y from 16
20 chemical structure of lidocaine
22 chemical formula for lidocaine
24 molecular weight of lidocaine
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a composition for treating skin ulcers of the present
invention. In its broadest embodiment, the present invention comprises a topically-
applicable composition including sucralfate 10 and a topical anesthetic or an antibiotic.
Sucralfate is an a-D-glucopyranoside, §-D-fructofuranosyl-, octakis-(hydrogen
sulfate), aluminum complex as illustrated in FIG. 1. It is sold under the trade name
CARAFATEO, in both tablet and liquid suspension form. It is most commonly
dispensed for use in treating duodenal ulcers. The present invention is based on the
finding that sucralfate, in combination with other active components such as topical
anesthetics, antibiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and the like, can effectively treat a wide
variety of topical conditions.
In preferred form, the composition of the invention includes sucralfate and
lidocaine in combination. Lidocaine (Xylocaine), is an amide originally synthesized
from cocaine, and is one of the most widely used local anesthetics in use today. It is
administered parenterally for ventricular arrhythmias, subcutaneously for minor
surgical procedures, and topically to mucosal surfaces prior to invasive procedures.
Available forms include a topical solution (2-4%), a rectal suppository (10%), an
aerosol (10%), a jelly (2%), viscous lidocaine (2%), and a solution for intravenous and
subcutaneous administration (0.5-2%).
The sucralfate is normally provided in suspension form, at a concentration of lg
sucralfate per 10ml of suspension. The preferred concentrations for the present
invention results from the combination of 1 drop (about O.lg) of 2% lidocaine mixed
together with about 0.25 fluid ounces (about 7.5 ml) of sucralfate suspension. When
mixed in this proportion, the suspension thickens to the consistency of a gel, providing
for ready administration to the patient.
Thus prepared, the composition of the present invention can be used to
effectively treat a wide range of skin ailments, providing pain relief and promoting
healing of any open ulcers. Additionally, further active components may be added to
the composition as needed. For example, antibiotics and/or antifungal agents, vitamins
such as vitamins A, C and E, plants extracts such as aloe vera or other plant materials
which may promote healing, and combinations thereof.
Sucralfate binds preferentially to wound sites to form a protective coating
thereon. Accordingly, the compositions of the present invention provide for the
preferential delivery, to the wound site, of the various active components via the
sucralfate in the composition. The effectiveness of the sucralfate in acting as a
preferential carrier may be enhanced when the active component has an affinity for
sucralfate, as many pharmaceutical products do. For example, the antibiotics
tetracycline, doxycycline, nalidixic acid, the fluoroquinolone antibiotics ciprofloxacin,
norfloxacin and ofloxacin, and the antifungal ketoconazole all have been shown to have
some affinity for sucralfate and may find particular utility in the compositions of the
present invention.
In addition to these compounds which adsorb to the sucralfate, other antibiotics
also find utility in the compositions of the invention. This includes sulfa drugs and
other antibiotics such as bacitracin, trimethoprim, penicillin and erythromycin. A
preferred antibiotic is a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, in a weight
TM ratio of 1:5, respectively, sold under the tradename Bactπm .
The composition has been used to treat effectively many different ailments. For
example, it has been used effectively to relieve pain and promote healing of diabetic
ulcers, herpes ulcers, shingles, eczema, acne, psoriasis, skin rashes, burns and
abrasions, and the like. The composition is further used effectively to reirritations and
discomfort caused by poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, bedsores, soar throats,
surgical incisions and skin ulcers on humans, animals and mange. In each instance,
immediate relief from the pain caused by the ulcers, and much more rapid healing of
the wounds than when left untreated or treated by conventional methods was reported
in the case of humans and visible in the case of animals and mange. The composition
has also been shown to be effective in treating sinus conditions where pain and
inflammation are implicated. When used as a gargle, the composition has proven
effective in treating soar throats and minor throat irritations such as those caused by
colds and flu.
The composition of the present invention has shown further, unexpected utility
in preventing the development of herpes ulcers. It has been found that, when the
composition of the present invention is applied to a nascent herpes outbreak (when a
small bump occurs on the skin, the typical foreshadowing of an outbreak), the bump
recedes within 1 1/2 to 2 days, then disappears without developing into a herpes ulcer.
Additionally, patients report that after using the composition of the invention to stem
the outbreak, the time between outbreaks is greatly extended, typically by a factor of 3
to 4. Therefore, the invention provides prophylactic utility for preventing herpes
outbreaks. It is anticipated that such prophylactic utility extends also to other recurring
conditions, such as psoriasis, diabetic ulcers, and the like.
The present invention can greatly alleviate the symptoms of chicken pox, and
promotes the rapid healing of the associated skin eruptions such that scarring is
avoided. The results are similar for treatment of infected skin rashes; pain relief was
immediate and the skin appeared completely healed within 2 to 3 days.
In such conditions where antibiotics or antifungal agents are useful, the
composition has also shown great efficacy. Such conditions include, for example, acne
vulgaris, ringworm, jock itch, athlete's foot, conditions where infection is a concern,
such as any open wounds, and the like.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more
together, may also find a useful application in other types of applications differing from
the type described above. This includes, for example, veterinary applications as well as
the medical applications described herein.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a
composition for treating skin ulcers, it is not intended to be limited to the details
shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions
and changes in the forms and details of the formulation illustrated and in its operation
can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the
present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for
various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of this invention.