Nitroglycerin, transdermal delivery

The nitrates are available in various forms (eg, sublingual, transmucosal, translingual spray, and inhalation). Some adverse reactions are a result of the metiiod of administration. For example, sublingual nitroglycerin may cause a local burning or tingling in the oral cavity. However, die patient must be aware that an absence of this effect does not indicate a decrease in the drug s potency. Contact dermatitis may occur from use of die transdermal delivery system. 

Such design criteria have been successfully utilized in commercially available membrane-reservoir type of transdermal delivery systems for scopolamine, nitroglycerin, and more recently, estradiol (40,41). 

Figure 8.6 Plasma concentration versus time profiles obtained following administration of different transdermal nitroglycerin systems for 24 hours (Modified from Transdermal Delivery Systems A Medical Rationale. Cleary, G.W. In Topical Drug Bioavailability, Bioequivalence, and Penetration. Shah, V.P. and Maibach, H.I. Eds. Plenum Press, New York, 1993, pp 17-68)...

Nitroglycerin (NTC) is distinguished by a high membrane penetrability and very low stability. It is the drug of choice in the treatment of angina pectoris attacks. For this purpose, it is administered as a spray, or in sublingual or buccal tablets for transmucosal delivery. The onset of action is between 1 and 3 minutes. Due to a nearly complete presystemic elimination, it is poorly suited for oral administration. Transdermal delivery (nitroglycerin patch) also avoids presystemic elimination. 

Advances in transdermal delivery systems (TDSs) and the technology involved have been rapid because of the sophistication of polymer science, which now allows incorporation of polymeric additives in TDSs in adequate quantity. Drugs with which transdermal therapy was pioneered include scopolamine, nitroglycerine, iso-sorbide dinitrite, clonidine, estradiol, nicotine, and testosterone [74],... 

As shown in Table 4, sophisticated adhesive patches for transdermal delivery of scopolamine (motion sickness), nitroglycerine (anginal symptoms), clonidine (regulation... 

Nitroglycerin Delivery Systems. Transderm-Nitro, Nitro-dur, and Minitran are all transdermal therapeutic systems that dehver nitroglycerin [55-63-0] mol wt 227.09, at a continuous, controlled rate through intact skin for treatment of angina (95). 

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