[Stability of inhaled drugs as a requisite for safe therapy as for example, with nebulised glucocorticosteroids]

In inhalation therapy preservation of the stability of an aerosolized drug molecule while nebulisation is an important factor determining its clinical efficacy and safety. The influence of nebulisation with employment of ultrasonic and jet methods using compressed air and oxygen as aerosol carriers on the stability of inhaled hydrocortisone hemisuccinate, budesonide and flunisolide was investigated. Collected aerosol samples were analyzed using thin layer chromatography and compared with standard solution samples in UV-wavelength chi = 254 nm. The appearance of additional fluorescence exctinction points by ultrasonic and air jet methods produced hydrocortisone hemisuccinate aerosol samples and by an ultrasonic method produced budesonide aerosol sample were observed. This could provide evidence for affecting stability and appearance of desintegration products of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate and budesonide while nebulisation using aforementioned methods. In the context of the obtained results the stability of a flunisolide molecule remains unaffected. Furthermore, the process of steroids solution condensation on the membrane of the nebuliser and in inhalation vessel were seen. The phenomena of molecule desintegration and solution condensation as well stated while nebulisation lead to reduction of the inhaled steroid dose accessible for a patient.