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TRANS;
meaning "across"
DERMAL;
meaning "the skin"
Although
we think of the primary purpose of the skin as a barrier to keep
things out of the body, scientists have known for at least 2 centuries
that certain compounds have the ability to cross the layers of the
skin and obtain access to blood vessels and the general circulation.
Modern medicine has responded with the development of methods to
deliver drugs transdermally for therapeutic use as an alternative to
traditional routes.
Why
would one need to go through the trouble of formulating a transdermal
when perhaps a simple tablet would do?
Well,
the advantages of transdermal drug delivery systems speak for
themselves and include avoidance of side effects, avoidance of the
gastrointestinal tract and hepatic first-pass biotransformation and
metabolism, control of absorption, availability of multiple skin sites
to avoid local irritation and toxicity, and improved compliance. The
result is a wider range of therapeutic options for physicians to use
in optimizing their patients care.
Despite
these facts, drug manufacturers have not been fast to bring these
products to market. Currently there are only 13 transdermal
medications available in Canada, yet studies have shown many more
drugs to actually be effective in transdermal preparations.
This
is where Central Pharmacy’s specialty transdermal compounding
service comes in. Through the use of a specially compounded
Pluronic-Lecithin-Organogel (PLO gel) we are able to formulate
transdermal preparations of a large variety of drugs. The PLO gel
serves as a carrier for the drug and "takes" it across the
skin where it can be taken up by the bloodstream to penetrate deep
into the affected tissues. One theory is that the PLO gel slightly
disorganizes the structure of the skin, and thus, permits the
permeation of various substances.
The
following are examples of transdermal preparations which we have
compounded in the past. If you feel that you or someone you know would
benefit from our transdermal compounding service, or would just like
to find out more about this unique delivery route, please contact us.
We will be happy to discuss your questions and concerns.
Examples
of Transdermal Compounds
 Non
Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) (particularly useful
for those who suffer from stomach upset due to NSAIDS or those
with allergies to NSAIDS)
Anti-nauseants
Narcotic
Analgesics
Muscle
Relaxants
Corticosteroid s
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