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.