Multimodal particulate formulations

1. A bimodal particulate composition for nasal administration of benzodiazepine particulates having an effective average particle size greater than 2000 nm and a bimodal particle size distribution, comprising a first population of particles having a first effective average particle size and a second population of particles having a second effective average particle size, wherein the first effective average particle size is at least 1.5 times that of the second effective average particle size.

2. The bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , wherein the benzodiazepine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of: alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, clorazepam, demoxazepam, flumazenil, flurazepam, halazepam, midazolam, nordazepam, medazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, mexazolam, prazepam, quazepam, triazolam, temazepam, loprazolam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and combinations thereof.

3. The bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , wherein the second population of particles has an average size in the range of 25 to 7000 nm and the first population of particles has an average size in the range of 500 to 10,000 nm.

4. The bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , wherein the difference between the average particle size of the first and second populations is greater than 100 nm.

5. The bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , wherein the difference between the average particle size of the first and second particle populations is greater than 10% of the average particle size of the second population of particles.

6. The bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a suspension of particles in a liquid carrier or diluent.

7. The pharmaceutical bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , comprising a first population of particles and a second populations of particles, wherein the second population of particles has a particle size distribution having a node between 0.5 μm and 5.0 μM and the first population of particles has a particle size distribution having a node greater than 5.0 μm.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one member of the group consisting n-decyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-decyl β-D-maltopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-maltoside; heptanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-heptyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; n-heptyl β-D-thioglucoside; n-hexyl β-D-glucopyranoside; nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-noyl β-D-glucopyranoside; octanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and octyl β-D-thioglucopyranoside.

9. A method of using a bimodal particulate composition of claim 1 , wherein the bimodal particulate composition is administered to at least one nostril.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bimodal particulate composition comprises an amount of benzodiazepine effective for acute treatment of seizure, reduction in the frequency of seizure and/or reduction in severity of seizure.

11. A pharmaceutical particulate composition for nasal delivery of benzodiazepine comprising benzodiazepine particulates having an effective average particle size greater than 2000 nm and a bimodal particle size distribution.

12. The pharmaceutical particulate composition of claim 11 , wherein the medicament comprises at least one benzodiazepine selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, clorazepam, demoxazepam, flumazenil, flurazepam, halazepam, midazolam, nordazepam, medazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, mexazolam, prazepam, quazepam, triazolam, temazepam, loprazolam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and combinations thereof.

13. The pharmaceutical particulate composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition is a suspension of particles in a liquid.

14. The pharmaceutical particulate composition of claim 13 , wherein the composition is a non-aqueous dispersion or suspension of nanoparticulate benzodiazepine particles in a liquid.

15. The pharmaceutical particulate composition of claim 11 , comprising a first population of particles and a second populations of particles, wherein the second population of particles has a particle size distribution having a node between 0.5 μm and 5.0 μm and the first population of particles has a particle size distribution having a node greater than 5.0 μm.

16. The composition of claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one member of the group consisting n-decyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-decyl β-D-maltopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-maltoside; heptanoyl-N-methylgiucamide; n-heptyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; n-heptyl β-D-thioglucoside; n-hexyl β-D-glucopyranoside; nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-noyl β-D-glucopyranoside; octanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and octyl β-D-thioglucopyranoside.

17. A method of using a pharmaceutical particulate composition of claim 11 , wherein the medicament is administered to at least one nostril.

18. An aerosol composition of an aqueous suspension or dispersion of nanoparticulate benzodiazepine particles, wherein droplets of the aerosol have a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) less than or equal to 1000 μm and the nanoparticulate benzodiazepine particles have a bimodal particle size distribution and an effective average particle size of greater than 2000 nm.

19. The aerosol composition of claim 18 , wherein the benzodiazepine particles comprise at least one benzodiazepine selected from the group consisting of: alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, clorazepam, demoxazepam, flumazenil, flurazepam, halazepam, midazolam, nordazepam, medazepam, diazepam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, mexazolam, prazepam, quazepam, triazolam, temazepam, loprazolam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and combinations thereof.

20. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one member of the group consisting n-decyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-decyl β-D-maltopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-glucopyranoside; n-dodecyl β-D-maltoside; heptanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-heptyl-β-D-glucopyranoside; n-heptyl β-D-thioglucoside; n-hexyl β-D-glucopyranoside; nonanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-noyl β-D-glucopyranoside; octanoyl-N-methylglucamide; n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and octyl β-D-thioglucopyranoside.

21. A method of using an aerosol composition of claim 19 , wherein the aerosol composition is administered to at least one nostril.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the aerosol composition comprises an amount of benzodiazepine effective for acute treatment of seizure, reduction in the frequency of seizure and or reduction in severity of seizure.

23. A method of using an aerosol composition of claim 19 , wherein the composition is administered with a pulmonary delivery device.

24. The method of using an aerosol composition of claim 23 , wherein the pulmonary delivery device is selected from a nebulizer, a dry powder inhaler and a metered dose inhaler.