Pharmaceutical compositions containing low dose opioid antagonists for use in treating bowel disease characterized by inflammation or ulceration of the intestinal wall and elevated pge2 levels

摘要

Methods for the treatment of inflammatory and ulcerative diseases of the bowel (e.g., Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) with a therapeutically effective dose less than 50 mg. of opioid antagonists (e.g., naltrexone, nalmefene or naloxone) are disclosed. An embodiment of the invention includes a method of pharmaceutical treatment comprising orally administering to a human subject having Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis a therapeutic pharmaceutical composition once per day in the evening or at bedtime, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises form about 3 mg to about 4.5 mg of naltrexone, nalmefene, naloxone, or a hydrochloride salt thereof in an immediate release solid dosage formulation.