Nasal administration of albuterol: an alternative route of delivery.
The use of metered-dose inhalers for the delivery of albuterol, a beta2-selective adrenergic agonist, is associated with drawbacks, especially in children and the elderly. This investigation was designed to assess the effectiveness of albuterol delivered intranasally and to compare this delivery route with intratracheal and intravenous delivery. Three parameters of pulmonary function (peak maximal expiratory flow, maximal expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity, and total lung capacity) in anaesthetized, artificially ventilated guinea pigs were used to determine the degree of protection produced by albuterol against bronchoconstrictor responses provoked by acetylcholine. The heart rate was also measured. Although intranasal albuterol induced a slower protective action during the very initial phase of absorption, the drug was shown to be equally effective when administered either intranasally or intratracheally. In contrast, despite a significant effect initially in the case of intravenous albuterol, its ability to influence pulmonary function faded rather rapidly. No statistically significant differences in heart rate could be detected among the different treatment groups. In conclusion, intranasal albuterol may offer an alternative to metered-dose inhalers for the treatment of acute bronchospasm and for prevention of exercise-induced asthma, especially for children and the elderly.
College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0082, USA.
Anwar A
AA
Hussain
Adnan
A
Dakkuri
Yih-Loong
YL
Lai
Ashraf
A
Traboulsi
Munir A
MA
Hussain
D000109:Acetylcholine; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D014109:Total Lung Capacity / Q000187:drug effects; D014132:Trachea; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000420:Albuterol