title: Transdermal and transmucosal administration of pain-relieving and anxiolytic drugs: a primer for the critical care practitioner.
abstract: Recent developments in both applied dermal physiology and in pharmaceutical technology are paving the way towards the introduction of novel routes of drug administration which will have both a direct and an indirect effect on critical care practice. Among these approaches, transdermal and transmucosal applications appear particularly promising because of the accessibility, noninvasiveness, compliance, safety, and efficacy associated with the techniques. Fentanyl, as the prototypical opioid for transdermal and transmucosal applications, and midazolam (a benzodiazepine) will ultimately be replaced with newer synthetic compounds specifically formulated for these routes of administration.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biddle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilliland
mesh_terms: D000278:Administration, Buccal; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D001682:Biological Availability; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics