INHALED LOXAPINE (ADASUVE®) FOR AGITATION ASSOCIATED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISORDER. Summary

The drug and the review Loxapine is a first-generation (typical) antipsychotic used for the symptomatic management of psy-chotic disorders. Loxapine inhalation is delivered via the breath-actuated Staccato ® device, through which drug is quickly vaporised to form a small particle aerosol for systemic delivery after inhalation. In February 2013, inhaled loxapine (Adasuve®) was approved for use in the EU for the rapid control of mild-to-moderate agitation in adult patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Loxapine inhalation is delivered via the breath-actuated Staccato ® device, through which drug is quickly vaporised to form a small particle aerosol for systemic delivery after inhalation. After the pa-tient starts to inhale, the drug is rapidly heated to peak temperature in less than 0.5 seconds and va-porised in less than 1 second. The drug then cools and condenses into a pure drug aerosol, which is drawn through the mouth and into the lungs, where it diffuses into the circulation. No special inhaler technique is required to use the device and the aerosol formation is independent of the patient’s in-halation rate. Backgroun