A method for determination of the absolute pulmonary bioavailability of inhaled drugs: terbutaline

Terbutaline sulfate (4 X 0.250 mg) was given to 11 healthy volunteers by inhalation from a metered dose inhaler (MDI), with and without oral administration of a charcoal slurry. Before the inhalations, the adsorbing capacity of the charcoal slurry was tested. Deuterated terbutaline, 0.125 mg, was given intravenously at the same time as the test doses. The charcoal slurry adsorbed 97% of an oral dose. The oral contribution to the overall systemic bioavailability after inhalation, when charcoal was coadministered, could thus be neglected. After inhalation of terbutaline, 9.1% of the dose was deposited in the lungs and an additional 6.7% was systemically available via the oral route. The method presented measures the absolute pulmonary bioavailability after inhalation from a MDI. Since a deuterated analogue is given intravenously together with the inhalations, fewer subjects are needed to obtain reliable data.