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Comparative in vivo lung delivery of hydrofluoroalkane-salbutamol formulation via metered-dose inhaler alone, with plastic spacer, or with cardboard tube.

Author(s): Fowler SJ, Wilson AM, Griffiths EA, Lipworth BJ

Affiliation(s): Asthma and Allergy Research Group, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Publication date & source: 2001-04, Chest., 119(4):1018-20.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the lung delivery of chlorofluorocarbon-free salbutamol via a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) alone, a pMDI with a small-volume plastic spacer, and a pMDI with a cardboard tube. DESIGN: A randomized, single (investigator)-blind, three-way, crossover study. SETTING: The Asthma and Allergy Research Group, Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve healthy volunteers aged 16 to 65 years. INTERVENTIONS: The subjects were administered 400 microg of salbutamol via a pMDI alone, via a pMDI plus a small-volume plastic spacer, or via a pMDI plus a cardboard tube. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Blood samples for plasma salbutamol concentrations were taken at 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min after inhalation, to measure lung bioavailability as a surrogate for relative lung dose. The addition of the plastic spacer resulted in a significantly higher maximal plasma salbutamol concentration (CMAX) and average plasma salbutamol concentration (CAV) than the pMDI used alone. This amounted to a 1.48-fold (32%) difference (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 2.13) for CMAX and a 1.42-fold (30%) difference (95% CI, 1.01 to 2.00) for CAV. There was no significant difference in the CMAX or CAV comparing the addition of the cardboard tube with the plastic spacer or the pMDI alone. CONCLUSIONS: Using a chlorofluorocarbon-free pMDI with a plastic spacer produced statistically, but not biologically, significant greater lung delivery of salbutamol. If a spacer is required for reasons other than increasing delivered drug dose, then the addition of a readily available cardboard tube will fulfill many of the required functions with no expense to the patient.

Page last updated: 2006-01-31

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