Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Preservatives in nebulizer solutions: risks without benefit

R Beasley1, D Fishwick, J F Miles

  • 1Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.

Pharmacotherapy
|February 20, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Post-traumatic stress disorder cases reported by UK occupational physicians 1996-2024.

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Respiratory conditions and pesticide exposure in British pesticide applicators.

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2025
Same author

Trends in occupational respiratory conditions with short latency in the UK.

Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)·2024
Same author

A vanguard randomised feasibility trial comparing three regimens of peri-operative oxygen therapy on recovery after major surgery.

Anaesthesia·2023
Same author

COVID-19 border controls prevent a 2021 seasonal influenza epidemic in New Zealand.

Public health·2021
Same author

Fenoterol and Death from Asthma in New Zealand.

International archives of allergy and immunology·2021
Same journal

The Effect of Multiple Doses of Itraconazole on the Pharmacokinetics of a Single Oral Dose of Zongertinib in Healthy Male Volunteers.

Pharmacotherapy·2026
Same journal

Menopausal Hormone Therapy: A Narrative Review of Contemporary Evidence.

Pharmacotherapy·2026
Same journal

Getting It Right the Second Time: How Can we Optimize First-Generation Cephalosporin Dosing for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in the 21st Century?

Pharmacotherapy·2026
Same journal

Buprenorphine Initiation During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Decreases Sedative and Opioid Exposure: A Retrospective Matched Case-Control Study.

Pharmacotherapy·2026
Same journal

Voriconazole Dosing and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Patients Before and After Liver Transplantation.

Pharmacotherapy·2026
Same journal

Quantifying the Serum Magnesium Response and Predictors of Response Following Intravenous Magnesium Replacement in Critically Ill Patients.

Pharmacotherapy·2026
See all related articles

Preservatives like benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and edetate disodium (EDTA) in nebulizer solutions can cause bronchoconstriction in asthma patients. Switching to preservative-free, unit-dose vials is recommended for safer inhalation therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Respiratory Therapeutics

Background:

  • Nebulizer solutions for asthma and COPD often contain preservatives like benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and edetate disodium (EDTA).
  • These preservatives, particularly BAC, can cause bronchoconstriction and reduce the efficacy of bronchodilators when inhaled.
  • Current US regulations lack transparency regarding preservative concentrations in nebulizer products.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of preservatives (BAC and EDTA) in nebulizer solutions on respiratory function in patients with obstructive airway diseases.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of preservative-free nebulizer solutions compared to those containing preservatives.
  • To advocate for regulatory changes promoting the use of preservative-free bronchodilator solutions.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of existing literature on the effects of BAC and EDTA on airway reactivity.
  • Analysis of bronchodilator efficacy and adverse events associated with nebulizer solutions containing preservatives.
  • Comparison of bacterial contamination rates between preservative-containing and preservative-free nebulizer solutions in unit-dose vials.

Main Results:

  • Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a potent inhaled bronchoconstrictor, while edetate disodium (EDTA) also causes dose-dependent bronchoconstriction.
  • Inclusion of BAC and EDTA in ipratropium bromide solutions led to paradoxical bronchoconstriction and reduced bronchodilator efficacy in asthmatic patients.
  • Preservative-free nebulizer solutions in sterile unit-dose vials do not lead to significant bacterial contamination.

Conclusions:

  • Preservatives like BAC and EDTA in nebulizer solutions pose a risk of bronchoconstriction and reduced bronchodilator effectiveness.
  • The use of preservative-free nebulizer solutions, especially in unit-dose vials, is a safer alternative for treating asthma and COPD.
  • The United States should align with international practices by withdrawing nebulizer solutions containing BAC and promoting preservative-free formulations.