title: Pharmacokinetics of buccal and intranasal lorazepam in healthy adult volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the plasma-concentration profile of lorazepam when administered by the intranasal and buccal routes to determine their utility for the treatment of prolonged seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  On two occasions separated by at least 7 days washout, 12 healthy adult male volunteers received 2 mg of lorazepam via the intranasal or buccal route. Blood samples were collected at time periods from 0 to 48 h, and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lorazepam was well absorbed from both administration routes; however, there was a more pronounced lag phase with the buccal route and absorption was more rapid from the intranasal route.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intranasal lorazepam has more favourable pharmacokinetics than buccal lorazepam when considering the need for the rapid blood concentrations required for seizure termination. Further clinical evaluation of this route is required.
authors.affiliation: Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK. mark.anderson7@nuth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Parag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tambe
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sammons
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulla
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Imti
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choonara
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000278:Administration, Buccal; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008140:Lorazepam