Intranasal Protocol

Background

Combination therapy, with lower doses of each medication in adults (e.g. Midazolam and Fentanyl) works better than any of the medications alone

Use only concentrated (e.g. Midazolam 5 mg/ml) formulations
Monitor oxygen saturation in all patients as per existing departmental policy
Ideal volume is 0.3 to 0.5 ml per nostril, maximum is 1 ml per nostril (high volumes will just leak from nose)
Volume to be delivered is the calculated dose plus 0.10 ml dead space in the device (the amount of medication that will remain within the syringe and atomizer tip and therefore will not be delivered to the patient)

Damage to the nasal mucosa.
- If the nasal mucosa is injured or destroyed (e.g. by chronic cocaine use) then reduced mucosal surface area exists, and it is unlikely that nasal drug delivery will be effective
Respiratory Tract infections, Blood and Secretions.
- Patients with large amounts of mucus and blood will not absorb drugs effectively intra-nasally as the drug will have difficulty contacting the nasal mucosa