IC9 Pharm Tech

Question 1

What are the advantages of the intranasal route?

Answer 1

1. Non-invasive
2. Can be self-administered
3. By passes 1st-pass metabolism
4. Short onset of effect

Question 2

What is in the Lipinski’s Rule of 5?

Answer 2

≤5 H bond donors
≤10 H bond acceptors
<500Da
- <300Da for nose to brain access of hydrophilic drugs
- <1kDa for nose to brain of lipophilic drugs
Log P < 5
Unionised

Question 3

What does a co-solvent do?

Answer 3

If a compound is not so soluble in water, a co-solvent is used to make it more soluble in water.

Question 4

What is the pH range of drugs that we can administer via the nostril?

Answer 4

pH 4 to 7.4

Physiological pH is 7.4. As the nostril is exposed to the external environment, we can deliver up till pH 4.

Question 5

What is the tonicity range that we can deliver intranasally?

Answer 5

300-700 mOsm

Question 6

What is the maximum volume that we can administer via intranasal spray?

Answer 6

200µL

Question 7

What are strong bases and acids often used as?

E.g NaOH and HCL

Answer 7

pH adjustment agents

Question 8

List some examples of tonicity adjustment agents

Answer 8

1. NaCl
2. KCl
3. Glycerin
4. Glycine

Question 9

Administration of sumatriptan intranasally leads to 2 peaks in plasma concentration of sumatriptan. Why is this so?

Answer 9

1st peak is due to intranasal absorption. 2nd peak is due to gut absorption.