Drug formulations for systemic
drug delivery with improved stability and
rapid onset of action are described herein. The formulations may be administered via
buccal administration,
sublingual administration, pulmonary delivery,
nasal administration, subcutaneous administration,
rectal administration, vaginal administration, or ocular administration. In the preferred embodiments, the formulations are administered sublingually or via
subcutaneous injection. The formulations contain an
active agent and one or more excipients, selected to increase the rate of
dissolution. In the preferred embodiment, the
drug is
insulin, and the excipients include a
metal chelator such as EDTA and an acid such as
citric acid. Following administration, these formulations are rapidly absorbed by the
oral mucosa when administered sublingually and are rapidly absorbed into the
blood stream when administered by
subcutaneous injection. In one embodiment, the composition is in the form of a
dry powder. In another embodiment, the composition is in the form of a film,
wafer, lozenge,
capsule, or tablet. In a third embodiment, a dry powdered
insulin is mixed with a
diluent containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as water or
saline, a
metal chelator such as EDTA and an acid such as
citric acid. Devices for storing and mixing these formulations are also described.