Titratable dosage transdermal delivery system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a titratable dosage transdermal delivery system for systemic delivery of a therapeutic agent or drug. The system comprises a plurality of patch units that are connected along one or more borders. The plurality of patch units are divisible into units along the one or more borders having one or more lines of separation. Each patch unit is surrounded by a border. The therapeutic patch has at least a backing layer and a therapeutic agent comprising layer. The dosage of therapeutic agent delivered to a patient is proportional to the number of patch unit applied per treatment. The system enables systemic administration of a titratable dosage of therapeutic agent, adjustable by the patient under the direction of a physician, through the skin or mucosa. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of making the titratable dosage transdermal delivery system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of providing a titratable amount of therapeutic agent to a patient using the transdermal delivery system of the invention.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of delivering a drug through a patient's skin comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising a drug disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein the drug is a narcotic analgesic, a local anesthetic, a sedative, a tranquilizer, or a combination thereof, and wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the plurality of patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating at least one patch unit from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation; and    (c) applying at least one patch unit such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patch units are applied on the skin of the planter foot arch, lateral ankle, palm, upper arm, ventral forearm, dorsal forearm, back, chest, thigh, abdomen, scalp, axilla, forehead, lower back, chest, buttocks or scrotum.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the drug layer; and a cover layer is disposed on the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug is fentanyl, etorphine, buprenorphine, penzocaine, morphine, morphine derivative, lidocaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine, pentabarbital sodium, phenobarbital, secobarbital sodium, codeine, (a-bromoisovaleryl) urea, carbromal, sodium phenobarbital, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said transdermal delivery system further comprises a release limiting layer disposed on the drug layer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug is encapsulated by microcapsules.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer comprises about 0.1-90% by weight of the drug.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer comprises about 10-45% by weight of the drug.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer comprises about 25-40% by weight of the drug.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer further comprises a softening agent, wherein the softening agent is dodecanol, undecanol, octoanol, esters of carboxylic acids, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer further comprises a permeation enhancing agent.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the cover layer comprises a notch so as to facilitate separation of the cover layer from the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transdermal delivery system is stored in a resealable pouch.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lines of separation are parallel and/or perpendicular to each other.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lines of separation are lines of perforations.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lines of separation are spaced at regular intervals.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lines of separation are about 1 cm to 6 cm apart.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein 2 to 5 patch units are connected in series in the transdermal delivery system.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein 4 patch units are arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns in the transdermal delivery system.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer is a reservoir layer.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer is a drug-in-matrix layer.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the drug layer is a drug-in-adhesive layer.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  wherein two to five patch units are applied on the skin.  
     
     
         24 . A method of delivering a drug through a patient's skin comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising fentanyl disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the plurality of patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating at least one patch unit from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation; and    (c) applying at least one patch unit such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         25 . A method of delivering a drug through a patient's skin comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising buprenorphine disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the plurality of patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating at least one patch unit from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation; and    (c) applying at least one patch unit such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         26 . A method of delivering a narcotic analgesic through a patient's skin comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising a narcotic analgesic disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the plurality of patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating at least one patch unit from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation; and    (c) applying at least one patch unit such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the narcotic analgesic is fentanyl.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the narcotic analgesic is buprenorphine.  
     
     
         29 . A method of adjusting the therapeutic dosage of drug delivered through a patient's skin, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising a drug disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein the drug is a narcotic analgesic, a local anesthetic, a sedative, a tranquilizer, or a combination thereof, and wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating a first number of patch units from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation;    (c) applying the first number of patch units such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin;    (d) thereafter, separating a second number of patch units from the delivery system along at least one line of separation, the second number of patch units being different than or the same as the first number of patch units; and    (e) applying the second number of patch units such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein one or more patch units from the first number of patch units are removed from the skin before applying the second number of patch units to the skin.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein one or more patch units from the first number of patch units remain on the skin before applying the second number of patch units to the skin.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the drug is fentanyl, etorphine, buprenorphine, penzocaine, morphine, morphine derivative, lidocaine, prilocaine, mepivacaine, pentabarbital sodium, phenobarbital, secobarbital sodium, codeine, (a-bromoisovaleryl) urea, carbromal, sodium phenobarbital, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising increasing the dosage of drug through the patient's skin, wherein the second number of patch units is greater than the first number of patch units.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , comprising decreasing the dosage of drug through the patient's skin, wherein the second number of patch units is less than the first number of patch units.  
     
     
         35 . A method of adjusting the therapeutic dosage of drug delivered through a patient's skin, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising fentanyl disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating a first number of patch units from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation;    (c) applying the first number of patch units such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin;    (d) thereafter, separating a second number of patch units from the delivery system along at least one line of separation, the second number of patch units being different than or the same as the first number of patch units; and    (e) applying the second number of patch units such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein one or more patch units from the first number of patch units are removed from the skin before applying the second number of patch units to the skin.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein one or more patch units from the first number of patch units remain on the skin before applying the second number of patch units to the skin.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising increasing the dosage of fentanyl through the patient's skin, wherein the second number of patch units is greater than the first number of patch units.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising decreasing the dosage of fentanyl through the patient's skin, wherein the second number of patch units is less than the first number of patch units.  
     
     
         40 . A method of adjusting the therapeutic dosage of drug delivered through a patient's skin, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a transdermal delivery system that comprises a plurality of patch units, wherein each patch unit comprises a backing layer having one or more borders, a drug layer comprising buprenorphine disposed on the backing layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer is disposed on the borders of the backing layer; the patch units are connected to each other along one or more borders of the patch units; and each patch unit is defined by one or more lines of separation along the borders of the patch units;    (b) separating a first number of patch units from the transdermal delivery system along at least one line of separation;    (c) applying the first number of patch units such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin;    (d) thereafter, separating a second number of patch units from the delivery system along at least one line of separation, the second number of patch units being different than or the same as the first number of patch units; and    (e) applying the second number of patch units such that the drug layer makes contact with the skin.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein one or more patch units from the first number of patch units are removed from the skin before applying the second number of patch units to the skin.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein one or more patch units from the first number of patch units remain on the skin before applying the second number of patch units to the skin.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , comprising increasing the dosage of buprenorphine through the patient's skin, wherein the second number of patch units is greater than the first number of patch units.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , comprising decreasing the dosage of buprenorphine through the patient's skin, wherein the second number of patch units is less than the first number of patch units.