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Systemic absorption of inhaled epinephrine
Author(s) -
Warren J B,
Doble N,
Dalton N,
Ewan P W
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1986.243
Subject(s) - epinephrine , anesthesia , absorption (acoustics) , potassium , inhalation , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , acoustics
To determine the systemic absorption of epinephrine when it is given by inhalation, six normal volunteers were given 15 puffs, followed by 30 puffs, of epinephrine from a pressurized aerosol (160 µg epinephrine/puff). The peak mean (±SE) plasma epinephrine levels were 1.50 (±0.61) and 4.22 (±1.93) nmol/L 1 minute after each dose, respectively. The effect on physiologic finger tremor correlated with the plasma epinephrine level and returned to baseline 20 minutes after taking the higher dose. There was a small fall in mean plasma potassium levels of 0.45 mmol/L and a small rise in plasma glucose levels of 0.81 mmol/L. On a separate occasion an injection of 0.3 ml of 1/1000 (300 µg) epinephrine was given subcutaneously to the same individuals. This caused a peak plasma epinephrine level of 2.43 (± 0.47) nmol/L at 10 minutes, and this was still raised at 2.05 (± 0.41) nmol/L after 40 minutes. The maximum fall in the mean plasma potassium level was 0.43 mmol/L after the injection. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40 , 673–678; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1986.243