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[A relevant choice for corticoid eye drops: solution or suspension?]
H Nourry1, C Viard, C Cambourieu
1Service de pharmacie, centre hospitalier national d'ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, 28, rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris, France. helenesophie.salmon@gmail.com
Journal Francais D'Ophtalmologie
|October 18, 2011
Summary
Ophthalmic corticosteroid suspensions show inconsistent drug delivery compared to solutions and gels, regardless of shaking time. Proper patient instruction on using suspensions is crucial to ensure effective corticosteroid treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmaceutics
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Steroid eye drops are available as solutions, gels, and suspensions.
- Suspensions require agitation due to suspended particles.
- Variability in ophthalmic steroid formulations impacts therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of agitation on corticosteroid concentration in various ophthalmic formulations.
- To compare the drug release consistency of dexamethasone and betamethasone suspensions, solutions, and gels.
Main Methods:
- Liquid chromatography was used to measure corticosteroid levels.
- Dexamethasone and betamethasone formulations (solutions, gels, suspensions) were tested.
- Samples were analyzed with and without shaking (5s, 10s, 30s, 1 min).
Main Results:
- Ophthalmic suspensions demonstrated inconsistent corticosteroid levels (23-99% mean) post-agitation.
- Solutions and gels consistently released approximately 100% of the corticosteroid.
- Shaking time did not significantly improve the consistency of corticosteroid delivery from suspensions.
Conclusions:
- Ophthalmic suspensions are less reliable for consistent corticosteroid delivery compared to solutions and gels.
- Healthcare providers must educate patients on the correct use of corticosteroid suspensions.
- Treatment failures should prompt an evaluation of instillation technique before assuming patient non-compliance.
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