Transdermal administration to humans and animals

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition for use in the transdermal administration of a medicament to both humans and animals, which composition comprises at least ingredients (1) and (2) of the following ingredients (1), (2) and (3), namely: (1) an effective amount of a medicament adapted for transdermal administration; (2) a transdermally transporting effective amount of a carrier for the medicament, which carrier is selected from semisolids and liquids at ambient temperatures, and which carrier comprises at least one compound selected from esters of C.sub.8-24 fatty acids, pharmaceutically acceptable aliphatic polyhydroxy compounds and non-volatile paraffins; (3) an optional medicament selected from antiinflammatory agents and antihistamines, effective to mitigate any skin-incompatibility characteristic which may otherwise be present. Administration is preferably by means of a matrix which comprises a porous, absorbent, perforate and flexible laminar solid support, having the composition absorbed thereon. The invention includes a device for use in transdermal administration, which comprises such a matrix, preferably included in a multilayer system providing a desired controlled or sustained release pattern for said medicament; as well as apparatus for applying a medicament non-adhesively to the skin of an animal, which comprises a removable enclosure bearing such a matrix or device, the apparatus being arranged for non-invasive mounting onto an animal ear.