USING RESPIRABLE DRUG DELIVERY RATE (RDDR) TO COMPARE DELIVERY EFFICIENCY OF THREE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE BREATH-ENHANCED NEBULIZERS WITH BUDESONIDE

PURPOSE: Nebulizer performance and efficiency has typically been measured by Delivered Dose (DD), Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD), Respirable Fraction (RF%) and Total Output Rate (TOR). It's since been shown that both Respirable Dose (RD) and Respirable Drug Delivery Rate (RDDR) are also important measures to compare nebulizer efficiency. The aim is to compare in-vitro performance and efficiency of 3 commercially available breath-enhanced nebulizers by measuring RD, RDDR, MMAD and nebulization time with budesonide inhalation suspension (Pulmicort Respules®, AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE).