title: Inhaled insulin: too soon to be forgotten?
abstract: Inhalation is a potentially viable route of administration for numerous agents. In diabetes mellitus, the need for frequent injections to achieve ideal glycemic control remains a significant limitation for initiating and complying with insulin therapy in a large number of patients. To overcome this barrier, inhaled insulin was developed. The inhalation form of regular human insulin has been tested and administered in a large number of trials. Respiratory capacity was evaluated in patients with normal lung parenchyma in whom inhaled insulin was administered without complications. However, issues like cost, bulky device, fear for lung safety, and the small number of studies in subjects with underlying respiratory disease prevented widespread use of this new mode of delivery. In the present review, we will suggest a number of methods that could be applied in this form of administration to maximize drug absorption and fully exploit the advantages of this route of administration.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Greece. pzarog@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouliatsis
authors.forename: Dionysis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spyratos
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin