indication

For the treatment of mild to moderate asthma

pharmacology

Nedocromil is a anti-inflammatory agent and can be administered directly to the bronchial mucosa. It has significant inhibitory effect on allergen-induced early and late asthmatic reactions and on bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

mechanism of action

Nedocromil has been shown to inhibit the in vitro activation of, and mediator release from, a variety of inflammatory cell types associated with asthma, including eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, monocytes, and platelets. Nedocromil inhibits activation and release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, prostaglandin D2 and leukotrienes c4 from different types of cells in the lumen and mucosa of the bronchial tree. These mediators are derived from arachidonic acid metabolism through the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathways. The mechanism of action of nedocromil may be due partly to inhibition of axon reflexes and release of sensory neuropeptides, such as substance P, neurokinin A, and calcitonin-geneñrelated peptides. The result is inhibition of bradykinin-induced bronchoconstriction. Nedocromil does not posess any bronchodilator, antihistamine, or corticosteroid activity.

toxicity

Side effects include headache, nasal congestion, ocular burning, irritation and stinging, unpleasant taste, cough, difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, shortness of breath, tightness in chest, wheezing, conjunctivitis, blurred vision, change in color vision, difficulty seeing at night, increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight.

biotransformation

Nedocromil is not metabolized after IV administration and is excreted unchanged.

absorption

Low

half life

~3.3 hours

route of elimination

It is not metabolized and is eliminated primarily unchanged in urine (70%) and feces (30%).