PHARMACODYNAMIC COMPARISON OF A NASAL FORMULATION OF VERAPAMIL AND INTRAVENOUS AND ORAL DOSAGE FORMS

The nasal route has been shown to be effective for the administration of numerous drugs in order to improve drug bioavailability. A nasal ge l of verapamil hydrochloride was formulated and evaluated pharmacodyna mically in humans, using electrocardiographic results, with comparison to oral and IV routes. Seven volunteers were involved in the study an d the pharmacodynamic parameters were evaluated statistically. Experim ental nasal gel showed similar pharmacodynamic results with the intrav enous route, which is a hint to the reduction in verapamil-induced fir st-pass metabolism. However, oral route of administration showed a ten dency of less efficacy. No reasonable effect of verapamil could be obt ained with the placebo group.