| abstract |
Prodrugs of meptazinol and other phenolic analgesics exhibiting low oral bioavailability with amino acids or lower peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing such prodrugs and a method for providing pain relief with such prodrugs are provided. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for increasing the oral bioavailability of a phenolic analgesic. The method comprises orally administering a phenolic analgesic prodrug, wherein the phenolic analgesic is bound to an amino acid or peptide via a carbamate linkage, to a subject in need thereof. Prodrugs having side chains of valine, leucine, isoleucine and glycine amino acids and mono-, di- and tripeptides thereof are preferred. |