DRUG-CONTAINING TRANSDERMAL PATCHES, PLASTISOLS AND ADHESIVES

摘要

Drug delivery polymer systems include hydrophobic polymer and a drug that has an aromatic ring. The system comprises, on a carrier (10), a layer (12) comprising the pressure sensitive adhesive having solids in which a drug is substantially soluble, a non-adhesive polymeric resin distributed uniformly in non-particulate manner through the adhesive, in which the drug is substantially soluble, and drug. Another delivery system comprises a non-adhesive layer (14) of polymeric resin in which a drug component is substantially soluble and an adjoining adhesive band (18) arranged to hold the non-adhesive layer against the skin. In both, the drug comprises at least 10 % by weight of the drug-containing layer, preferably in excess of 20 %, or 30 % or 40 % by weight. It is discovered that concentrations in excess of 50 % and 60 % can be achieved in effective formulations. The layer can be thin so that, despite high concentration no more than about 30mg drug per inch square is present, preferably less than 20mg or 10 mg per inch square. In embodiments that achieve a high concentration, the drug component comprises at least two drugs, one of which is soluble in the other, a solution of the drugs in the quantities present in the layer having a melting temperature below room temperature, and lower than the melting temperature of either drug alone. A congealed plastisol layer comprising tetracaine, lidocaine and polyvinyl chloride, is particularly effective for topical anesthetic. Methods of manufacture and preparatory compositions have now been disclosed.