[Intranasal delivery of systemic drugs: a new route for opioid drugs].

The intranasal delivery of drugs is widely used for the local treatment of rhinitis or nasal polyposis. This route of delivery could represent an interesting alternative for systemic drugs with low digestive absorption. The nasal mucosa acts as an anatomical obstacle hard to get over, except for compounds with low molecular weight or highly lipophilic. Among morphinic drugs, fentanyl, very lipophilic, is rapidly absorbed via intranasal administration with a bioavailability close to 90%. This route of delivery for fentanyl is a new alternative for the treatment of breakthrough pain and gives the opportunity to discuss on the interest and the limits of nasal route administration of drugs, particularly of opioids.