Intranasal Medication Delivery in Children for Brain Disorders

Abstract

Intranasal administration is an attractive option for the delivery of many therapeutic agents especially for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS). In contrast to drugs that require delivery by peripheral injection, which requires blood brain barrier permeability of the injected drug for CNS delivery and may cause anxiety and infection, the intranasal route allows drugs to bypass the BBB due to its highly specialized nasal anatomy and the olfactory pathway. Due to its non-invasive nature and easy procedure, intranasal drug delivery is particularly suited for use in children and may be performed by medical staff or family members. This article will review the use of intranasal medications with a focus on their utility in children. We will provide an overview of the nasal anatomy and its impact on drug delivery, the side effects of drugs specific to intranasal delivery, and a list of the medications which are currently administered intranasally. The most common drug classes for intranasal delivery in pediatrics include sedatives and analgesia, drugs for seizure control, opioid antagonists, and antimigraine medications. In summary, intranasal delivery is a versatile method for drug application with a wide range of clinical utility, and especially effective in the pediatric population.