Abstract: A system for dispensing a clinically effective dose of an inhalable, pharmaceutically active compound, which system includes a dry powder inhaler device containing a powder containing the pharmaceutically active compound, wherein (a) of the powder particles dispensed by the inhaler device (the “metered DPI dose”), at least 40% are less than about 10 microns in diameter at the point the particles exit the inhaler, (b) the metered DPI dose is sufficient to produce a clinically effective result in a patient; and (c) the amount of the compound in the metered DPI dose is not more than 70% of the minimal amount of the compound which, when dispensed in a pressurized metered dose inhaler, produces an equivalent clinically effective result in the same patient.

Abstract: A system for dispensing a clinically effective dose of an inhalable, pharmaceutically active compound, which system includes a dry powder inhaler device containing a powder containing the pharmaceutically active compound, wherein(a) of the powder particles dispensed by the inhaler device (the "metered DPI dose"), at least 40% are less than about 10 microns in diameter at the point the particles exit the inhaler,(b) the metered DPI dose is sufficient to produce a clinically effective result in a patient; and(c) the amount of the compound in the metered DPI dose is not more than 70% of the minimal amount of the compound which, when dispensed in a pressurized metered dose inhaler, produces an equivalent clinically effective result in the same patient.

Abstract: A method is provided for dispensing a clinically effective dose of an inhalable, pharmaceutically active compound. The method includes providing a dry powder inhaler containing a powder including the pharmaceutically active compound, and administering to a patient a dose of the compound that is less than 70% of the dose that would be necessary to obtain a physiologically equivalent result were the compound administered by a pressurized metered dose inhaler. The pharmaceutically active compound is in the form of primary particles at least 80% of which have a particle size of less than 10 microns, and the primary particles are provided as agglomerates which are deagglomerated during inhalation so that at least 40% of the dose administered is in the form of primary particles.