Influence of food on the absorption of albuterol Repetabs

Chronotherapeutics--a chronopharmaceutical approach to drug delivery in the treatment of asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways associated with airflow obstruction that is reversible spontaneously or with treatment. Bronchial asthma is a disease based on established circadian rhythm. The symptoms of asthma worsen during midnight to early morning and therefore it is required to deliver the drug in such fashion that effective treatment can be obtained during the time of asthma attacks. Chronotherapy is an approach that fulfills the criteria of drug delivery at a specific time as per the pathophysiological need of the disease, to improve patient compliance. The current article focuses on the chronotherapy of bronchial asthma, methodologies involved for the existing systems, recent updates and different chronopharmaceutical technologies currently available in the market. Chronotherapy with different categories of bronchial asthma medications also has been reviewed.

Asthma: Chronopharmacotherapy and the molecular clock

Bronchial asthma is characterized by chronic airways inflammation and reversible airflow limitation. In patients with asthma, symptoms generally worsen during the early hours of the morning, and pulmonary function often deteriorates at the same time, suggesting a role for chronopharmacotherapy. Several drugs for asthma have been developed based on chronopharmacology. Most medications employed for the chronotherapy of asthma are administered once at night with the goal of preventing chronic airway inflammation or development of airflow limitation. In addition to bronchodilators, the inhaled glucocorticosteroid ciclesonide is now available with once-daily dosing, which also improves patients' compliance. Numerous investigations have demonstrated the usefulness of chronotherapy for asthma, especially for patients with nocturnal asthma. This review focuses on chronotherapy of asthma, and also provides a molecular biological explanation for the influence of asthma medications on the clock genes.

Chronobiology and chronotherapy of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma

Study of the chronobiology of allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA) and the chronopharmacology and chronotherapy of the medications used in their treatment began five decades ago. AR is an inflammatory disease of the upper airway tissue with hypersensitivity to specific environmental antigens, resulting in further local inflammation, vasomotor changes, and mucus hypersecretion. Symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion, and runny and itchy nose. Approximately 25% of children and 40% of adults in USA are affected by AR during one or more seasons of the year. The manifestation and severity of AR symptoms exhibit prominent 24-h variation; in most persons they are worse overnight or early in the morning and often comprise nighttime sleep, resulting in poor daytime quality of life, compromised school and work performance, and irritability and moodiness. BA is also an inflammatory medical condition of the lower airways characterized by hypersensitivity to specific environmental antigens, resulting in greater local inflammation as well as bronchoconstriction, vasomotor change, and mucus hypersecretion. In USA an estimated 6.5 million children and 15.7 million adults have BA. The onset and worsening of BA are signaled by chest wheeze and/or croupy cough and difficult and labored breathing. Like AR, BA is primarily a nighttime medical condition. AR is treated with H1-antagonist, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid and leukotriene receptor antagonist and modifier) medications. Only H1-antagonist AR medications have been studied for their chronopharmacology and potential chronotherapy. BA is treated with some of the same medications and also theophylline and beta2-agonists. The chronopharmacology and chronotherapy of many classes of BA medications have been explored. This article reviews the rather extensive knowledge of the chronobiology of AR and BA and the chronopharmacology and chronotherapy of the various medications used in their treatment.

Circadian rhythms in the pharmacokinetics and clinical effects of beta-agonist, theophylline, and anticholinergic medications in the treatment of nocturnal asthma

Published asthma consensus reports now acknowledge that asthma is a nocturnal disease in as many as 75% of those afflicted by this medical condition. Nonetheless, the treatment of this chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the clinic continues to be based primarily on homeostatic considerations in that it relies on long-acting bronchodilator and other therapies formulated and scheduled to ensure constant or near-constant levels of medication during the 24h. The need of asthma patients prone to nighttime attacks is not the same during the day and night; the therapeutic requirements of patients who experience nocturnal asthma, especially ones with the more severe forms of the disease, are often not satisfied by conventional medications. The therapeutic response and patient tolerance to bronchodilator medications can be improved markedly when the medications are proportioned during the 24h as a chronotherapy, that is, when more medication is delivered during nighttime sleep than daytime activity, as verified by numerous studies. This article reviews how the body's circadian rhythms influence the pharmacokinetics and effects of commonly prescribed asthma therapies and addresses why and how they must be taken into consideration to increase the effectiveness of asthma treatment.

Metered dose inhaler salbutamol treatment of asthma in the ED: comparison of two doses with plasma levels

Two cumulative doses of salbutamol delivered by metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a pear-shaped spacer were compared (400 micrograms vs 600 micrograms at 10-minute intervals). Twenty-two patients (mean age 35.1 +/- 11.1 years) with acute exacerbation of asthma were randomly selected, in a double-blind fashion, to receive salbutamol delivered with MDI into a spacer device in 4 puffs at 10- minute intervals (100 micrograms or 150 micrograms per actuation) during 3 hours (1200 micrograms or 1800 micrograms each 30 minutes). Mean peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) improved significantly over baseline values for both groups (P < .001). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between both groups for PEFR and FEV1 at any time point studied. A significant net reduction of heart rate was observed in the 400 microgram group (P < .01). On the other hand, a significant increase in heart rate was observed in the 600 microgram group (P < .001). The QTc interval did not show a significant prolongation, and the two groups presented moderate decreases of serum potassium levels. There was a significant dose-related increase (P = .027) in Sao2. Additionally, the 600 microgram group generated a serum glucose level increase from 0.85 +/- 0.12 mg/100 mL to 1.04 +/- 0.25 mg/100 mL (P = .02), with a higher incidence in 4 symptoms (tremor, headache, palpitations, and anxiety). These data support the notion that the treatment of acute asthma patients in the emergency department setting with salbutamol, 2.4 mg/h, delivered by MDI and spacer (4 puffs at 10-minute intervals) produces satisfactory bronchodilation, low serum concentration, and minimal extrapulmonary effects. However, an increase of 50% of the dose (600 micrograms at 10-minute intervals) produced a nonsignificant, slightly better therapeutic response but with greater side effects, probably related to higher salbutamol levels.

High-dose MDI salbutamol treatment of asthma in the ED

Beta-adrenergics have long been under special scrutiny because of their potential for cardiotoxicity. To assess the safety of high doses of salbutamol delivered by metered dose inhaler (MDI) with spacer in the emergency department (ED) setting, 11 patients (mean age 33 +/- 12.2 years) with severe acute asthma were studied. All patients were treated with 400 micrograms of salbutamol at 10-minute intervals for 3 hours (1,200 micrograms each 30 minutes or 7,200 micrograms at 180 minutes. There were dose-related significant increases in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) (P < .01), with a net mean increase of 90.4% and 80.1%, respectively. A significant (P < .01) reduction of heart rate was observed with treatment. At the end of protocol, reductions ranged from 7 beats/min to 35 beats/min (mean decrease 10.6 +/- 10.5 beats/min). There was no prolongation in the QTc interval. Mean baseline serum potassium was 4.23 +/- 0.53 mmol/L and decreased nonsignificantly after treatment to 3.99 +/- 0.62 mmol/L. Only 4 patients showed net decreases. There were no significant changes in oxygen saturation and plasma glucose. The mean end-treatment salbutamol level was 10.0 +/- 1.67 ng/mL. These data support the notion that treatment of acute asthma patients in the ED with 2.4 mg salbutamol per hour delivered by MDI and spacer produce satisfactory bronchodilation, low serum concentration, and minimal extrapulmonary effects.

Pharmacokinetic optimisation of asthma treatment

Asthma is generally managed with bronchodilator therapy and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. Guidelines now advocate selection of drugs and pharmaceutical formulations (long-acting vs short-acting, inhaled vs systemic) on the basis of disease severity. Theophylline has a narrow therapeutic margin. Clearance is highly variable and plasma concentrations should be monitored to avoid the occurrence of plasma concentration-related adverse effects. The rate of absorption of theophylline differs depending on the sustained release formulation administered. Some products do not provide sufficient plasma drug concentrations for therapeutic efficacy over a 12-hour period, particularly in patients with high clearance rates (e.g. children and patients who smoke). Administration of drugs via inhalation offers several advantages over systemic routes of administration (e.g. adverse effects are decreased). Inhalation is now advocated as first-line therapy. Aerosol medications available for the treatment of asthma are beta 2-agonist (including the newer long-acting agents such as salmeterol), corticosteroids, anticholinergic drugs, sodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sodium) and nedocromil. To reach the airways, aerosolised particles should be 1 to 5 microns in diameter. Particles of this size can be produced by nebuliser for continuous administration or by metered-dose inhaler and drug powder inhaler for unit dose medication. For efficient use of the metered-dose inhaler, slow inhalation and actuation must be coordinated. However, efficacy and convenience can be improved when spacer devices are used. Furthermore, spacer devices lessen the oropharyngeal adverse effects of inhaled corticosteroids. Dry powder inhalers are more easily used by children and elderly patients than metered-dose inhalers. Regardless of the device used, a maximum of 10% of the inhaled dose reaches the airways. The rest of the dose is swallowed and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Most inhaled drugs have low oral bioavailability, either because of a high first-pass metabolism (beta 2-agonists and glucocorticoids) or because of lack of absorption (sodium cromoglycate). Sulphation of beta 2-agonists occurs in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and extensive metabolism of inhaled corticosteroids occurs in the liver. Low bioavailability of the swallowed fraction contributes to reduced adverse effects. The pharmacokinetic properties of an inhaled drug are of interest. The fraction of the dose absorbed through the lung has the same disposition characteristics as an intravenous dose, and the swallowed fraction has the same disposition as an orally administered dose. However, for many drugs, pharmacokinetic data after inhalation are limited and cannot be used as a criteria for selection of therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

High serum albuterol levels and tachycardia in adult asthmatics treated with high-dose continuously aerosolized albuterol

To study the feasibility of using high-dose continuously aerosolized albuterol aerosol in adults, seven adult asthmatic patients were treated eight times with 0.4 mg/kg/h albuterol delivered by continuous nebulization over 4 h. One patient withdrew at 3 h after supraventricular tachycardia developed. This subsided promptly on discontinuing albuterol therapy. Heart rate increases were observed in six of eight treatments and serum albuterol levels at the end of treatment were greater than 25.0 ng/ml in all but one treatment. A mean increase in heart rate of 16.3 percent was observed for the entire group. Of the treatments with elevated (> 25.0 ng/ml) serum albuterol levels, a significant cumulative increase in heart rate was observed with time. A significant improvement of FEV1 was observed (p = 0.0025) with a net increase of 36.8 percent. These data suggest that high-dose continuously aerosolized albuterol treatment in some adult asthmatics can result in markedly elevated serum albuterol levels and potential cardiac stimulation despite spirometric improvement.

The effect of respiratory disorders on clinical pharmacokinetic variables

Respiratory disorders induce several pathophysiological changes involving gas exchange and acid-base balance, regional haemodynamics, and alterations of the alveolocapillary membrane. The consequences for the absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs are evaluated. Drug absorption after inhalation is not significantly impaired in patients. With drugs administered by this route, an average of 10% of the dose reaches the lungs. It is not completely clear whether changes in pulmonary endothelium in respiratory failure enhance lung absorption. The effects of changes in blood pH on plasma protein binding and volume of distribution are discussed, but relevant data are not available to explain the distribution changes observed in acutely ill patients. Lung diffusion of some antimicrobial agents is enhanced in patients with pulmonary infections. Decreased cardiac output and hepatic blood flow in patients under mechanical ventilation cause an increase in the plasma concentration of drugs with a high hepatic extraction ratio, such as lidocaine (lignocaine). On a theoretical basis, hypoxia should lead to decreased biotransformation of drugs with a low hepatic extraction ratio, but in vivo data with phenazone (antipyrine) or theophylline are conflicting. The effects of disease on the lung clearance of drugs are discussed but clinically relevant data are lacking. The pharmacokinetics of drugs in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are reviewed. Stable asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease do not appear to affect the disposition of theophylline or beta 2-agonists such as salbutamol (albuterol) or terbutaline. Important variations in theophylline pharmacokinetics have been reported in critically ill patients, the causes of which are more likely to be linked to the poor condition of the patients than to a direct effect of hypoxia or hypercapnia. Little is known regarding the pharmacokinetics of cromoglycate, ipratropium, corticoids or antimicrobial agents in pulmonary disease. In patients under mechanical ventilation, the half-life of midazolam, a new benzodiazepine used as a sedative, has been found to be lengthened but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Pulmonary absorption of pentamidine was found to be increased in patients under mechanical ventilation. Pharmacokinetic impairment does occur in patients with severe pulmonary disease but more work is needed to understand the exact mechanisms and to propose proper dosage regimens.