AIR insulin + salbutamol

AIR insulin + salbutamol is a combination therapy that has been studied for diabetes management, particularly in patients with asthma. The AIR insulin component is an inhaled insulin formulation designed for pulmonary delivery, while salbutamol (also known as albuterol) is a short-acting beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions. In this combination, salbutamol pretreatment has been shown to significantly increase AIR insulin exposure and action, bringing the levels closer to those seen in healthy subjects. This is because in asthmatic subjects, overall insulin exposure was significantly reduced with AIR inhaled insulin treatment compared to healthy subjects, and salbutamol pretreatment mitigated this reduction. ### Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action - **AIR insulin**: Acts on insulin receptors to facilitate glucose uptake. - **Salbutamol**: A selective beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, thereby facilitating the absorption of inhaled insulin. ### Clinical Studies A clinical study investigated the pharmacokinetic and glucodynamic response to AIR insulin in subjects with mild persistent or moderate asthma, with and without pretreatment with inhaled salbutamol. The study found that salbutamol pretreatment significantly improved AIR insulin exposure and action in asthmatic patients. ### Administration In the clinical study, salbutamol was administered as two inhalations (0.1 mg/inhalation) before AIR insulin in some treatment arms, to evaluate whether bronchodilation could improve insulin absorption and action. ### Safety Considerations Careful monitoring, including pulmonary function tests, is required. It's noted that insulin aspart (a component of some insulin formulations) can have decreased therapeutic efficacy when used with salbutamol, which might be relevant for some insulin formulations.

Other names

AIR insulin + albuterol