Use of inhibitors of the degradation of enkephalins and endorphins in the case of the combating of schmerzzustaenden as well as for the preparation of pharmaceutical preparations and pharmaceutical compositions

摘要

A new class of analgesics is provided by substances that inhibit breakdown of endogenous substances such as enkephalins and/or endorphins. The analgesic effect of an enkephalin breakdown inhibitor is greatly enhanced by being combined with an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory analgesic, herein designated as an aspirin-type drug. Specifically, both D-phenylalanine and D-leucine, each an enkephalin breakdown inhibitor, when used separately provides excellent analgesia in animals and man without developing tolerance or addiction in either species. Use of a combination of D-phenylalanine and D-leucine provides a greatly enhanced analgesia approaching the analgesia achieved by morphine. Analgesia by the latter combination is very long-lasting in animals. The injection of a combination of D-phenylalanine and an aspirin-like drug that is antipyretic and anti-inflammatory, in an animal provides a greatly enhanced analgesia approaching the analgesia achieved by morphine. Analgesia by D-phenylalanine is very long-lasting in humans.