Aqueous compositions containing corticosteroids for nasal and pulmonary delivery

An aerosolized composition for administering a therapeutic dose of a corticosteroid to respiratory tract, composing:

• (a) from 5 μg/mL to about 5 mg/mL of a dissolve corticosteroid;
• (b) from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of a pharmaceutically acceptable, high-HLB surfactant component containing one or more surfactants having an HLB of greater than 10, wherein the high-HLB surfactant component comprises at least 50% by weight of an ethoxylated derivative of vitamin E;
• and
• (c) at least about 70 weight percent aqueous phase.

A method for administering a therapeutic dosage of an aerosolized corticosteroid to respiratory tract of a patient in need thereof, comprising:

• (a) providing a corticosteroid composition comprising:
• (1) from 5 μg/mL to about 5 mg/mL of a dissolved corticosteroid;
• (2) from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of a pharmaceutically acceptable, high-HLB surfactant component containing one or more surfactants having an HLB of greater than 10, wherein the high-HLB surfactant component comprises at least 50% by weight of an ethoxylated derivative of vitamin E;
• and
• (3) at least about 70 weight percent aqueous phase;
• (b) aerosolizing the corticosteroid composition;
• and
• (c) administering a therapeutically effective dosage of the aerosolized composition to said patient by inhalation.

A method for administering a therapeutic dosage of an aerosolized corticosteroid composition to the nasal passage of a patient in need thereof, comprising:

• (a) providing a corticosteroid composition comprising:
• (1) from 5 μg/mL to about 5 mg/L of a dissolved corticosteroid;
• (2) from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of a pharmaceutically acceptable, high-HLB surfactant component containing one or more surfactants, having an HLB of greater than 10, wherein high-HLB surfactant component comprises at least 50% by weight of an ethoxylated derivative of vitamin E;
• and
• (3) at least about 70 weight percent aqueous phase,
• (b) administering a therapeutically effective dosage of the corticosteroid composition by nasal inhalation to said patient.