Methods for transdermal drug administration

Abstract

Adhesive transdermal drug delivery devices may be removed and subsequently reapplied to an area of skin if the adhesive has an initial adhesive/skin bond strength sufficient to maintain said transdermal drug delivery device on the skin to which it is applied for the entire predetermined administration period; and an adhesive/skin bond strength upon replacement on the skin after removal therefrom which is adequate to retain the device on the skin for the balance of the administration period.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for the transdermal administration of a drug through non-scrotal skin over a predetermined administration period comprising: 
 a) placing a transdermal drug delivery device containing the drug and having an adhesive surface for maintaining the device on non-scrotal skin of an individual;    b) removing said device from the skin prior to the expiration of said period; and    c) replacing said device the non-scrotal skin of the individual;    d) where said adhesive surface is formed from an adhesive formulation that provides (i) an initial adhesive/skin bond strength sufficient to maintain said transdermal drug delivery device on the non-scrotal skin to which it is applied for the entire predetermined administration period and (ii) an adhesive/skin bond strength upon replacement on non-scrotal skin sufficient to retain said device for the balance of said administration period.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said initial bond strength is less than 195 gm/cm.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said initial bond strength is at least about 95 gm/cm.  
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive formulation is a non-crosslinked adhesive formulation.  
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 4  wherein the non-cross-linked polymer is PIB.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the adhesive surface comprises a mixture of LMW PIB and HMW PIB.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the LMW PIB has a molecular weight of about 15,000-50,000 and the HMW PIB has a molecular weight of about 990,000-1,6000,000.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the adhesive further comprises a plasticizer.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the HMW PIB/LMW PIB/plasticizer ratio is: 0.75-i.25/1-1.5/1.5-2.5.  
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 2  wherein the adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 72% of said initial bond strength.  
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 10  when the adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 85% of said initial bond strength.  
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 3  wherein said the adhesive/skin bond strength on replacement is at least 72% of said initial bond strength.  
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 12  when said bond strength on replacement is at least 85% of said initial bond strength.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil and polybutene.