Oral drug delivery reservoir systems

Scopolamine was the first drug to be marketed as a transdermal delivery system (Transderm-Scop) to alleviate the discomfort of motion sickness. After oral administration, scopolamine has a short duration of action because of a high first-pass effect. In addition, several side-effects are associated with the peak plasma levels obtained. Transderm-Scop is a reservoir system that incorporates two types of release mechanims a rapid, short-term release of drag from the adhesive layer, superimposed on an essentially zero-order input profile metered by the microporous membrane separating the reservoir from the skin surface. The scopolamine patch is able to maintain plasma levels in the therapeutic window for extended periods of time, delivering 0.5 mg over 3 days with few of the side-effects associated with (for example) oral administration. 

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