title: Comparison of beclomethasone dipropionate delivery by easyhaler dry powder inhaler and pMDI plus large volume spacer.
abstract: Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) provide a means of delivering inhaled asthma drugs without the use of propellants. Easyhaler is a multidose DPI, delivering 200 doses of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), 200 microg/dose. A gamma scintigraphic study has been carried out in 10 healthy volunteers to compare the deposition of BDP from Easyhaler with that from a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) coupled to a Volumatic spacer device delivering 250 microg BDP per dose. The spacer was used without any pretreatment to reduce static charge on the spacer walls. The study was conducted according to an open, randomized, crossover design. The volunteers inhaled the study drug using optimal inhalation technique for both devices. Lung deposition of 99mTc-labeled BDP averaged 18.9% (SD 9.5%) of the metered dose for Easyhaler, and 11.2% (SD 5.3%) for pMDI plus spacer (p < 0.05); when the data were expressed as mass of BDP deposited in the lungs, the difference in lung deposition just failed to reach statistical significance (Easyhaler 37.8 microg; pMDI plus spacer 28.0 microg). Oropharyngeal deposition was significantly reduced by use of the spacer. The results of this study show that Easyhaler delivers drug more efficiently to the lungs than pMDI plus Volumatic spacer when no measures are taken to eliminate static charge on the spacer walls.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Profiles Limited, Ruddington, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Pitcairn
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Adkin
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vidgren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silvasti
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D011208:Powders; D011312:Pressure; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011208:Powders; D013667:Technetium; D001507:Beclomethasone