Transdermal patch

A medicated adhesive patch that carries a drug across the skin and into the bloodstream over time, usually at a controlled rate.

Stratum corneum: The outermost layer of the epidermis, formed from dead cells embedded in lipids. This barrier is the main obstacle a drug must cross to enter the body.
Nicotine replacement therapy: Treatment for tobacco dependence that supplies nicotine without tobacco smoke. Nicotine patches provide a steady dose to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Oral administration: Delivery of a medication by swallowing it for absorption through the digestive tract. Oral drugs pass through the gastrointestinal system rather than crossing intact skin.
First-pass effect: The metabolism of a drug in the gut wall and liver before it reaches systemic circulation. Absorption through skin can avoid the presystemic metabolism that affects swallowed drugs.
Fick's laws of diffusion: Equations describing how particles diffuse in response to concentration gradients. They help explain how drug molecules move from a patch through skin.
Hormone replacement therapy: Treatment that supplements hormones the body produces in insufficient amounts. Estradiol patches deliver hormone through skin for some forms of therapy.
Intravenous therapy: Administration of fluids or medication directly into a vein. Intravenous delivery enters circulation immediately, unlike gradual absorption from a patch.
Medication adherence: The extent to which a person takes medication according to an agreed treatment plan. A patch can simplify dosing, though it still must be applied and replaced correctly.
Drug delivery system: A formulation or device designed to administer a therapeutic substance to the body. A transdermal patch is a delivery system that controls a drug's route and rate.
Scopolamine: A medication that blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and can prevent motion sickness. A patch behind the ear can deliver scopolamine over several days.

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