Aural and Nasal Routes

Question 1

Advantages of the nasal route (4)

Answer 1

easy to administer

non invasive, painless

direct route to brain is possible

low enzymatic activity

Question 2

Absorption occurs across..

Answer 2

turbinates and septum

Question 3

Lipophilic drugs transported …

Answer 3

Lipophilic drugs transported transcellularly by concentration- dependent passive diffusion, by receptor/carrier mediated and vesicular transport mechanisms

Question 4

Polar drugs pass through…

Answer 4

Polar drugs pass through epithelium via gaps between cells (tight junctions)

Question 5

The olfactory mucosa is in direct contact with..

Answer 5

the brain and cerebral spinal fluid.

Question 6

Drug delivery – systemically can be used…

Answer 6

emergency situations where rapid onset of action is required

Question 7

Factors affecting systemic absorption

Answer 7

solubility

lipophillicity/ hydrophilicity

molecular size

degree of ionisation - unionised with a higher logo is better absorbed than ionised form

enzymatic activity

nasal epithelium permeability

mucosal contact time

Question 8

Common devices include…

Answer 8

nasal sprays - easy and fast, exact nose, multi dose or unit dose

dropper/squeezers
although this requires skill to apply, If delivered too quickly causes cough

nasal tube
for creams, gels, ointments
messy to apply
uncontrolled dose

Question 9

Drug treatments for the ear can be broadly categorised as follows:

Answer 9

Antibiotics – eg, gentamicin.
– Anti-inflammatories – eg, hydrocortisone. – Antiseptics (not common now).
– Cleansing solutions eg, urea.
– Wax softeners – eg, docusate sodium.

Question 10

Dosage forms (in the ear) (3(

Answer 10

drops
sprays
washes

Question 11

Ear wax..

Answer 11

Wax is a normal bodily secretion which provides a protective film on the meatal skin.

• It needs only be removed if it causes deafness or interferes with a proper view of the ear drum.
• Composition of ear wax is mostly lipophilic substances

Question 12

Cerumenolytics act by…

Answer 12

softening the cerumen and lubricating the canal, thus facilitating ear wax removal from the ear canal
or by disintegrating it.

Question 13

Otitis externa

Answer 13

Inflammatory reaction of the meatal skin.

• Mostly caused by bacteria or fungus.
• Many cases recover after thorough cleansing of the external ear canal by suction or dry mopping.

Question 14

An astringent is…

Answer 14

An astringent is a substance that causes shrinking or constriction of body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application.