Vasomotor rhinitis and the systemic absorption of ipratropium bromide

Plasma concentrations of nasally administered ipratropium bromide were analyzed in 10 subjects suffering from severe vasomotor rhinitis and 10 age-sex matched control subjects. The rate of salivary secretion and heart rate were monitored in order to measure systemic anticholinergic effects. A total dose of 360 micrograms of ipratropium bromide (60 micrograms into each nostril, repeated twice at 15 min intervals) were administered nasally to the subjects in randomized order. Ipratropium bromide was rapidly absorbed from the nasal mucosa into the systemic circulation in both groups. The peak plasma concentrations were detected within 10 min after the last drug administration. The peak concentrations were about 50% higher (380 +/- 153 pg/ml) in patients than in control subjects (245 +/- 134 pg/ml). The AUCs/0-15 min (1970 +/- 1140 pg/ml X min) in patients were about 100% higher than in the control subjects (960 +/- 560 pg/ml X min). During the experiment there was a small decrease in the heart rate (8 bpm) and salivary secretion (10%) in both groups. In conclusion, the vasomotor rhinitis increases the systemic absorption of nasally administered ipratropium bromide, but the small increase in the absorption is not likely to have any clinical consequences.