摘要 |
Mucositis is treated and/or prevented by administrating to a patient a rapidly disintegrating solid dosage form comprising a tetracycline. The dosage form may contain another agent such as an NSAID, an inflammatory cytokine inhibitor, a mast cell inhibitor, an MMP inhibitor, an NO inhibitor, or a mixture thereof. The dosage forms may optionally also contain an antifungal agent to prevent fungal overgrowth due to reduction in the normal oral flora by the tetracycline. The tetracycline is preferably one that is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Such compositions have the advantage of treating the entire gastrointestinal tract since the active ingredient is not removed from the tract via absorption. Further, such compositions minimize systemic exposure and accompanying side effects. The compositions can be formulated as solid dosage forms comprising a tetracycline which disintegrates in an aqueous medium or saliva within in a short period, for example, two minutes. The dosage form can be, for example, a hard, compressed tablet adapted to rapidly disintegrate in saliva or an aqueous vehicle or a table prepared by freeze-drying a solution or suspension of the active ingredients. |