Pulmonary disease system

Dosage forms that use the inhalation route are often preferred in asthma and other obstructive pulmonary diseases. Systemic administration by the oral route or by injection is typically reserved for acute or severe bron-choconstrictive disease [see text for details]. 

Wouters EFM. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Systemic effects of COPD. Thorax 2002 57 1067-1070. 

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis RSV, respiratory syncytial virus SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus. 

Sympathomimetics (drugs that mimic the sympathetic nervous system) are used primarily to treat reversible airway obstruction caused by bronchospasm associated with acute and chronic bronchial asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis (abnormal condition of the bronchial tree), or other obstructive pulmonary diseases. 

Pulmonary disease, small-cell lung cancer, head trauma, stroke, central nervous system infections, pituitary surgery, prolactinoma, severe nausea, psychiatric disease, and postoperative state... 

The AEGL-1 concentration was based on a 1-hour (h) no-effect concentration of 8,000 parts per million (ppm) in healthy human subjects (Emmen et al. 2000). This concentration was without effects on pulmonary function, respiratory parameters, the eyes (irritation), or the cardiovascular system. Because this concentration is considerably below that causing any adverse effect in animal studies, an intraspecies uncertainty factor (UF) of 1 was applied. The intraspecies UF of 1 is supported by the absence of adverse effects in therapy tests with patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and adult and pediatric asthmatics who were tested with metered-dose inhalers containing HFC-134a as the propellant. Because blood concentrations in this study approached equilibrium following 55 minutes (min) of exposure and effects are determined by blood concentrations, the value of 8,000 ppm was made equivalent across all time periods. The AEGL-1 of 8,000 ppm is supported by the absence of adverse effects in experimental animals that inhaled considerably higher concentrations. No adverse effects were observed in rats exposed at 81,000 ppm for 4 h (Silber and Kennedy 1979) or in rats exposed... 

People who suffer from other pulmonary diseases that interrupt the flow of oxygen are especially sensitive to the irritating effects of SO2 and its particulate derivatives. This gas and several other gaseous air pollutants, to be mentioned in a moment, can cause other, delayed toxic effects in the respiratory system. Note also that these same chemicals are the principal causes of acid rain. 

The first commercially available DPI system appeared on the market in 1949, developed and marketed by Abbott under the name Aerohaler. Like all early pulmonary drug-delivery devices, it delivered small-molecule compoimds (bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroids) to the airways (not necessarily the deep limg) for the treatment of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Table 6 lists some of the early DPI systems used for asthma and COPD the energy somces in these devices were mechanical and patient inspiration. 

Q66 Hypnotic doses of diazepam may cause hyperventilation in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Diazepam causes central nervous system depression. 

CHF congestive heart failure CHI closed head injury CLA cis-linoleic acid CLL chronic lymphocytic leukemia CML chronic myelogenous leukemia CMV cytomegalovirus CNS central nervous system Comps complications COMT catechol-O-methyltransferase Contra contraindicated COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COX cyclooxygenase CP chest pain... 

Respiratory system (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD emphysema, chronic bronchitis], acute obstructive lung disease [asthma], chronic restrictive lung disease [connective tissue lung disease])... 

AChE, acetylcholinesterase CNS, central nervous system COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PREPARATIONS AVAILABLE Antimuscarinic Anticholinergic Drugs ... 

Legionnaires disease is frequently characterized as an opportunistic disease, meaning that it most frequently attacks individuals who have an underlying illness or a weakened immune system. The most susceptible people include the aged, smokers, and immunosuppressed individuals. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, organ transplant patients, and individuals on corticosteroid therapy are also at elevated risk. 

Inhalation aerosols have been used for the delivery of drugs to the respiratory system since the mid-1950s. The most common dosage form for inhalation is the metered-dose inhaler (MDI), by which the drug is delivered from a pressurized container using a liquefied gas propellant. Medication delivered via this dosage form has allowed for a quick therapeutic response to the symptoms of asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and has resulted in an improvement in the quality of life for millions of asthma sufferers. 

Pulsatilla possesses sedative, analgesic, antispasmodic, and bactericidal properties. Traditionally, it is used for dysmenorrhea, orchitis, ovaralgia, epididymitis, tension headache, hyperactive states, insomnia, boils, skin eruptions associated with bacterial infection, asthma and pulmonary disease, earache, and specifically for painful conditions of the male and female reproductive systems. Pulsatilla is widely used in homoeopathic preparations as well as in herbal medicine. 

Inhalation therapy is gaining importance in the therapy of a number of pulmonary diseases. This site-specific targeted delivery aims to achieve high local activity with reduced systemic side effects. 

Inhalation therapy with its benefit of reduced systemic side effects should be used for the therapy of pulmonary diseases whenever local therapy is able to achieve its therapeutic goals. Drug targeting should reduce the dose required to... 

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