The present invention provides methods for reducing pain in a subject in need of such pain reduction by delivering, e.g., intrathecally or epidurally, a volatile anesthetic dissolved in a solution comprising an extractive solvent, e.g., DMSO or NMP, in an amount effective to reduce pain. Chronic or acute pain may be treated, or the anesthetic may be delivered as a regional anesthesia to a subject to anesthetize a portion the subject prior to a surgery, hi certain embodiments, isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, methoxyflurane, or mixtures thereof may be used. Dosing regimens including a one-time administration, continuous and/or periodic administration are contemplated.