An aqueous pharmaceutical composition which is capable of being sprayed
into the nasal cavity of an individual and which comprises: (A) a
pharmaceutically effective amount of solid particles of medicament which
is effective in treating a bodily condition by virtue of its being
present on the mucosal surfaces of the nasal cavity; and (B) a suspending
agent in an amount effective to maintain said particles dispersed
uniformly in the composition and to impart to the composition the
following thixotropic properties: (i) the viscosity of the position in
unsheared form is relatively high, with the composition being in gel-like
form; (ii) as the composition is subjected to shear (shaken) in
preparation for spraying, the viscosity of the composition becomes
relatively low and such that the composition in the form of a mist flows
readily into the nasal passages for deposit on the mucosal surfaces of
the nasal cavity; and (D) in deposited form on the mucosal surfaces, the
viscosity of the composition is relatively high and such that it resists
being cleared from the mucosal surfaces by the inherent mucocillary
forces which are present in the nasal cavity, a method of use of the
composition and a method for preparation of the composition, including in
preferred form the use of anti-inflammatory steroid, for example,
triamcinoline acetonide, and an odorless form of the composition.