mannitol inhalation

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum 

When mannitol is breathed, it functions as an osmotic agent, drawing water into the airways. The thick mucus in the airways is hydrated and made easier to cough up and expel from the lungs thanks to the osmotic impact. mannitol inhalation can enhance lung function and lower the risk of respiratory infections by encouraging mucus clearance. 

The variety of illnesses for which mannitol inhalation is recommended and proven beneficial is referred to as the mannitol inhalation spectrum. Cystic fibrosis, a hereditary condition that damages the lungs and other organs, is usually treated by mannitol inhalation. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency defined  

1-10% 

For Aridol 

Adults 

Nausea (2%); 

Headache (6%) 

Wheezing (1%) 

Dizziness (1%) 

Rhinorrhea (2%) 

Retching (1%) 

Chest discomfort (1%) 

Pharyngolaryngeal pain (2%) 

Dyspnea (1%) 

Cough (2%) 

Throat irritation (2%) 

Children 

Pharyngolaryngeal pain, children (4%) 

Nausea, children (3%) 

Headache, children (3%) 

For Bronchitol 

Arthralgia (3.1%) 

Bacterial sputum identified (6.8%) 

Pyrexia (4.6%) 

Oropharyngeal pain (7%) 

Vomiting (3.1%) 

>10% 

For Bronchitol 

Hemoptysis (10.4%) 

Cough (15%) 

Post marketing reports 

For Aridol 

Severe bronchospasm 

Cough, decreased forced expiratory volume, gagging and wheeze 

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning 

mannitol inhalation does not have any black box warning. 

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindication: 

• mannitol inhalation should not be used by anyone who has a known hypersensitivity to or allergy to mannitol or any of the ingredients in the inhalation product. 

Caution: 

• mannitol inhalation should be used with caution in asthmatics since it may cause bronchospasm or exacerbate already present bronchial hyperresponsiveness.  
• During mannitol inhalation therapy, people with severe pulmonary function impairment or considerable airway blockage may need to be closely monitored. 
• A diuretic, mannitol can increase urine production. So caution should be taken in people who are dehydrated or have poor renal function since it could make these problems worse. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy warnings:     

Pregnancy category: N/A 

Lactation: Excretion into human milk is unknown  

Pregnancy Categories:         

Category A:  well-controlled and Satisfactory studies show no risk to the fetus in the first or later trimester. 

<b>Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women.  

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women. 

Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits. 

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.  

Category N:  There is no data available for the drug under this category. 

Pharmacology

Pharmacology  

mannitol inhalation is an osmotic agent, it can suck water into the airways. It draws water into the surface liquid of the airways when inhaled, which hydrates the mucus layer lining the airways. The mucus becomes less thick and more fluid due to the osmotic impact, making it easier for the lungs to clear the mucus. 

Pharmacodynamics 

mannitol inhalation improves mucus evacuation from the lungs by hydrating the body and lowering mucus viscosity. In diseases like cystic fibrosis, when the mucus is thick and sticky and hinders normal airway clearance, this effect is especially significant.  

Inhaling mannitol makes it easier to cleanse the airways of mucus through coughing or other methods. 

Pharmacokinetics 

Absorption   

mannitol particles are inhaled and go to the lungs where they are dissolved in the liquid that coats the airways. mannitol mostly operates locally in the airways and does not experience significant systemic absorption, hence there is little absorption into the systemic circulation. 

Distribution 

mannitol can move around the body freely in the extracellular fluid. After inhalation, distribution to tissues outside the lungs is low due to its weak systemic absorption. 

Metabolism 

The body does not considerably metabolize mannitol inhalation. It is an already-active sugar alcohol that doesn’t need to undergo biotransformation. 

Elimination and excretion 

mannitol inhalation is eliminated in urine undigested. It is taken in and enters the systemic circulation after inhalation is filtered by the kidneys before being quickly excreted from the body through urine. 

Adminstartion

Administration 

mannitol inhalation is administered using a dry powder inhaler (DPI) device. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: mannitol inhalation 

Why do we use mannitol inhalation? 

The use of mannitol inhalation is recommended for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The mucus in the airways thickens and sticks together in CF, making it difficult to remove normally and increasing the risk of respiratory infections.   

By hydrating and thinning the mucus, mannitol inhalation facilitates the mucus evacuation from the lungs and lowers the risk of infectio