Veterinary : Transdermal Medications

Have you ever thought about applying a transdermal preparation to the inside of an animal's ear or another hairless area as an alternate route of systemic administration? It's quick and easy, and many medications are compatible with transdermal bases. Transdermal delivery is particularly useful for animals who should not be stressed due to cardiovascular or hypertensive illness. Also, it is appreciated by owners who no longer have to deal with an animal who resists being medicated, and the resulting scratches! We can also prepare topical medications for application at the site of inflammation or infection.

Advantages of Transdermal Dosage Forms

Various alternative dosage forms permit medication to be absorbed via non-oral routes to meet an animal’s specific needs. Although the parenteral and rectal routes are traditional alternatives to oral administration, transdermal absorption offers many advantages.

For example:
- When medication is absorbed directly into the bloodstream without first entering the gastrointestinal system, a smaller amount of active ingredient may be required for therapeutic effect.
- Direct application and absorption at the target site can mean higher tissue levels and lower blood levels of various medications. Side effects such as GI irritation can be eliminated.
- Various types of drug interactions may be avoided when one or more interacting medications are administered transdermally.

A substantial number of references exist in human medical literature with regard to the efficacy of transdermal administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other types of analgesics, antiemetics, and other medications. We can compound transdermal and topical medications using a suitable base, and add penetrant enhancers if desired.