Formulation and presentation of medicaments

Abstract

A medicament package ( 10,30 ) comprises a vessel ( 12,32 ) adapted to hold a quantity of a liquid vehicle. The vessel ( 12,32 ) has an opening formed therein, to which opening is bonded a deformable enclosure ( 18,38 ). A medicament container ( 20 ) that contains a unit dose of a medicament is received within the enclosure ( 18,38 ), such that by deformation of the enclosure ( 18,38 ) the container( 20 ) may be dislodged from the enclosure ( 18,38 ) into the vessel ( 12,32 ), whereby the medicament may escape from the container ( 20 ) and mix with the liquid vehicle. The medicament contained within the medicament container (20) is most preferably in admixture with sodium chloride.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a solid medicament intended for dissolution or dispersion in a liquid vehicle, the medicament being in admixture with solid sodium chloride. 
   
   
       33 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the medicament and the sodium chloride are both present in the formulation in particulate form. 
   
   
       34 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the formulation comprises a solid body made up of the medicament and sodium chloride. 
   
   
       35 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the solid body is prepared by compaction of a powder mixture of medicament and sodium chloride. 
   
   
       36 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the formulation comprises less than 50% w/w of medicament. 
   
   
       37 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the formulation comprises more than 50% w/w of sodium chloride. 
   
   
       38 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the unit dose of medicament is formulated with sufficient sodium chloride to yield an isotonic solution or suspension when the formulation is mixed with a given volume of liquid. 
   
   
       39 . A pharmaceutical formulation as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the medicament is selected from the group consisting of bronchodilators (β 2 -agonists), steroids, anticholinergic agents, antiallergic agents, antibiotics, proteins and peptides, mucolytics, and vaccines.