Aqueous-based pharmaceutical composition

Abstract

An aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of medicament which is effective in treating a bodily condition by virtue of its being present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the position in unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being in gel-like form; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (D) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the viscosity of the composition is relatively high and such that it resists being cleared from the mucosal surfaces by the inherent mucocillary forces which are present in the nasal cavity, a method of use of the composition and a method for preparation of the composition, including in preferred form the use of anti-inflammatory steroid, for example, triamcinoline acetonide, and an odorless form of the composition.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of medicament which is effective in treating an abnormal bodily condition by virtue of its being present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the corn position in unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being a gel having said particles suspended therein; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (iii) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the viscosity of the composition is relatively high and such that it resists being cleared from the mucosal surfaces by the inherent mucocillary forces which are present in the nasal cavity; wherein said medicament is selected from the group consisting of triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasome, and prednisolone; and wherein said compostion is in a dosage form which contains about 200 to about 450 mcg of the medicament.