title: Effects of vehicle supplementation on total estradiol absorption from a transdermal estradiol delivery system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of vehicle supplementation on serum estradiol (E2) delivery pharmacokinetics from the Ciba-Geigy (Summit, NJ) 0.1-mg Estraderm Patch.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postmenopausal women were randomized to a 28-day crossover treatment protocol separated by a 14-day wash out period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal human volunteers were studied in an academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subject pool included eight healthy postmenopausal women between 32 and 60 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  In treatment A, a 0.1-mg Estraderm Patch was worn for 7 days; in treatment B, and identical patch was worn into which 0.6 mL of ethanol was injected on day 3 of use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum E2 levels were measured in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although E2 absorption showed characteristic interpatient variability, addition of ethanol significantly extended the mean time for serum E2 levels to return to baseline, without increasing peak absorption. The mean extension was 50 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of ethanol to the Estraderm Patch increased the duration of elevated serum E2 levels measured in menopausal women, thus potentially increasing the effective life span of the transdermal therapeutic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. 20007.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delignieres
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Albertson
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Tomai
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zinaman
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D000431:Ethanol; D004958:Estradiol