Details for Patent: 7,029,658

Title:	Delivery of antidepressants through an inhalation route
Abstract:	The present invention relates to the delivery of antidepressants through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing an antidepressant that are used in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, an antidepressant is administered to a patient through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises an antidepressant to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles with less than 5% antidepressant degradation products. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering an antidepressant through an inhalation route to a mammal is provided which comprises: a) a thin coating of an antidepressant composition and b) a device for dispensing said thin coating as a condensation aerosol.
Inventor(s):	Rabinowitz; Joshua D. (Mountain View, CA), Zaffaroni; Alejandro C. (Atherton, CA)
Assignee:	Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Filing Date:	Dec 12, 2003
Application Number:	10/734,902
Claims:	1. A method of treating depression in a patient comprising administering a therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol to the patient by inhalation, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of bupropion, nefazodone, perphenazine, trazodone, trimipramine, venlafaxine, tranylcypromine, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazepine, paroxetine, sertraline, amoxapine, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptylene, valproic acid and protriptylene, and wherein the condensation aerosol is formed by heating a thin layer containing the drug, on a solid support, to produce a vapor of the drug, and condensing the vapor to form a condensation aerosol characterized by less than 10% drug degradation products by weight, and an MMAD of less than 5 microns. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condensation aerosol is characterized by an MMAD of less than 3 microns. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein peak plasma drug concentration is reached in less than 0.1 hours. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condensation aerosol is formed at a rate greater than 0.5 mg/second. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least 50% by weight of the condensation aerosol is amorphous in form. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 150 mg of bupropion delivered in a single inspiration. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 200 mg of nefazodone delivered in a single inspiration. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 0.5 mg and 3 mg of perphenazine delivered in a single inspiration. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation comprises between 20 mg and 100 mg of trazodone delivered in a single inspiration. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 150 mg of trimipramine delivered in a single inspiration. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 100 mg of venlafaxine delivered in a single inspiration. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 7.5 mg and 20 mg of tranylcypromine delivered in a single inspiration. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 10 mg and 30 mg of citalopram delivered in a single inspiration. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 10 mg and 30 mg of fluoxetine delivered in a single inspiration. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 50 mg of fluvoxamine delivered in a single inspiration. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 7.5 mg and 20 mg of mirtazepine delivered in a single inspiration. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 5 mg and 30 mg of paroxetine delivered in a single inspiration. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 15 mg and 50 mg of sertraline delivered in a single inspiration. 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 150 mg of amoxapine delivered in a single inspiration. 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 100 mg of clomipramine delivered in a single inspiration. 21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 100 mg of doxepin delivered in a single inspiration. 22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 100 mg of imipramine delivered in a single inspiration. 23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 50 mg of maprotiline delivered in a single inspiration. 24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 20 mg and 50 mg of nortriptylene delivered in a single inspiration. 25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 100 mg and 400 mg of valproic acid delivered in a single inspiration. 26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic amount of a drug condensation aerosol comprises between 7.5 mg and 20 mg of protriptylene delivered in a single inspiration. 27. A method of administering a drug condensation aerosol to a patient comprising administering the drug condensation aerosol to the patient by inhalation, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of bupropion, nefazodone, perphenazine, trazodone, trimipramine, venlafaxine, tranylcypromine, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazepine, paroxetine, sertraline, amoxapine, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptylene, valproic acid and protriptylene, and wherein the drug condensation aerosol is formed by heating a thin layer containing the drug, on a solid support, to produce a vapor of the drug, and condensing the vapor to form a condensation aerosol characterized by less than 10% drug degradation products by weight, and an MMAD of less than 5 microns. 28. A kit for delivering a drug condensation aerosol comprising: a. a thin layer containing the drug, on a solid support, wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of bupropion, nefazodone, perphenazine, trazodone, trimipramine, venlafaxine, tranylcypromine, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazepine, paroxetine, sertraline, amoxapine, clomipramine, doxepin, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptylene, valproic acid and protriptylene, and b. a device for providing the condensation aerosol, wherein the condensation aerosol is formed by heating the thin layer to produce a vapor of the drug, and condensing the vapor to form a condensation aerosol characterized by less than 10% drug degradation products by weight, and an MMAD of less than 5 microns. 29. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the device comprises: a. a flow through enclosure containing the solid support, b. a power source that can be activated to heat the solid support, and c. at least one portal through which air can be drawn by inhalation, wherein activation of the power source is effective to produce a vapor of the drug, and drawing air through the enclosure is effective to condense the vapor to form the condensation aerosol. 30. The kit according to claim 29, wherein the heat for heating the solid support is generated by an exothermic chemical reaction. 31. The kit according to claim 30, wherein the exothermic chemical reaction is oxidation of combustible materials. 32. The kit according to claim 29, wherein the heat for heating the solid support is generated by passage of current through an electrical resistance element. 33. The kit according to claim 29, wherein said solid support has a surface area dimensioned to accommodate a therapeutic dose of the drug. 34. The kit according to claim 28, wherein peak plasma drug concentration the drug is reached in less than 0.1 hours. 35. The kit according to claim 28, further including instructions for use. 36. The method according to claim 1, wherein the condensation aerosol is characterized by an MMAD of 0.2 to 5 microns. 37. The method according to claim 2, wherein the condensation aerosol is characterized by an MMAD of about 0.2 to about 3 microns. 38. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is bupropion. 39. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is nefazodone. 40. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is perphenazine. 41. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is trazodone. 42. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is trimipramine. 43. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is venlafaxine. 44. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is tranylcypromine. 45. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is citalopram. 46. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is fluoxetine. 47. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is fluvoxamine. 48. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is mirtazepine. 49. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is paroxetine. 50. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is sertraline. 51. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is amoxapine. 52. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is clomipramine. 53. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is doxepin. 54. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is imipramine. 55. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is maprotiline. 56. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is nortriptylene. 57. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is valproic acid. 58. The method according to claim 27, wherein the drug is protriptylene. 59. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the condensation aerosol is characterized by an MMAD of less than 3 microns. 60. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the condensation aerosol is characterized by an MMAD of 0.1 to 5 microns. 61. The kit according to claim 59, wherein the condensation aerosol is characterized by an MMAD of about 0.2 to about 3 microns. 62. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is bupropion. 63. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is nefazodone. 64. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is perphenazine. 65. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is trazodone. 66. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is trimipramine. 67. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is venlafaxine. 68. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is tranylcypromine. 69. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is citalopram. 70. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is fluoxetine. 71. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is fluvoxamine. 72. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is mirtazepine. 73. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is paroxetine. 74. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is sertraline. 75. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is amoxapine. 76. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is clomipramine. 77. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is doxepin. 78. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is imipramine. 79. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is maprotiline. 80. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is nortriptylene. 81. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is valproic acid. 82. The kit according to claim 28, wherein the drug is protriptylene. 83. The kit according to claim 29, wherein the solid support has a surface to mass ratio of greater than 1 cm.sup.2 per gram. 84. The kit according to claim 29, wherein the solid support has a surface to volume ratio of greater than 100 per meter. 85. The kit according to claim 29, wherein the solid support is a metal foil. 86. The kit according to claim 85, wherein the metal foil has a thickness of less than 0.25 mm.