Posted by medlib on February 6, 2002, at 1:15:30
In reply to Selegeline Patch, posted by bob on February 5, 2002, at 22:54:47
Hi bob--
The amount of medication a transdermal patch delivers is a factor of the amount of skin surface area covered; thus, the larger the patch, the higher the dose. This makes patches much easier to taper down than oral timed-release meds which can't be opened or cut. For example, to reduce a dose 10%, just cut off 1/10 of the patch.
Insurance companies are notoriously slow to add new meds and old meds delivered by new routes to their "covered drugs" lists. And large patches seldom cost much more than smaller ones. So, if cost is a factor, the doc can prescribe a higher dose strength than is needed--to be subdivided by the patient as appropriate.
All in all, a neat route to deliver meds.---medlib
poster:medlib
thread:93031
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020131/msgs/93042.html