Jul.  3, 2003  18  US 2003/0124176 Al  [0216]  ophthalmic drugs: physostigmine sulfate;  [0217]  oxytocics: dinoprostone;  [0218]  peripheral vascular dilators:  cyclandelate,  isoxsuprine and papaverine;  [0219]  prostaglandins: alprostadil, dinoprostone, and  epoprostenol ( e.g., epoprostenol sodium);  [0220]  sedatives and hypnotics: diphenylhydramine  HCl, melatonin, propofol, triazolam, zalepion, and  zolpidem tartrate;  [0221]  serotonin  antagonists:  alosetron  HCl,  altanserin  tartrate,  amesergide  and  ketanserin;  ritanserin;  [0222]  serotonin receptor agonists: 5HT receptor  antagonists such as naratriptan HCl, rizatriptan ben› zoate, sumatriptan succinate, and zolmitriptan;  [0223]  serotonin receptor antagonists: 5HT$_{3 }$ (seroto› nin subtype 3 receptor) antagonists such as dolas› etron,  granisetron  hydrochloride,  ondansetron  hydrochloride, and tropisetron;  [0224]  steroids:  betamethasone  and  augmented  betamethasone, clobetasol propionate, desoximeta› sone, diflorasone diacetate, fluocinonide, flurandre› nolide, fluticansone ( e.g., fluticansonepropionate ),  halobetasol propionate, hydrocortisone, mometasone  furonate, and prednicarbate;  [0225]  thyroid preparations: antithyroid agents ( e.g.,  methimazole), synthetic T3 compounds (e.g., liothy› ronine sodium), and synthetic T4 compounds (e.g.,  levothyroxine sodium);  [0226]  tocolytic: salbutamol and ritodrine;  [0227]  topoimerase inhibitors: topotecan and irinote› can;  [0228]  Tourette’s Syndrome agents: haloperidol and  primozide; and  [0229]  wart preparations: imiquimod.  [0230]  Genetic material may also be delivered using the  methods, formulations and transdermal systems of the  invention, e.g., a nucleic acid,  RNA, DNA,  recombinant  RNA,  recombinant  DNA,  antisense  RNA,  antisense  DNA,  a  ribooligonucleotide, a deooxyriboonucleotide, an antisense  ribooligonucleotide, or an antisense deoxyriboooligonucle› otide.  [0231]  Particularly preferred systemically active agents  that can be administered transdermally in conjunction with  the present invention are as follows: buprenorphine, fenta› nyl, sufentanil, terbutaline, formoterol, albuterol, theophyl› line, estradiol, progesterone, scopolamine, enalapril, l-car› boxymethyl-3-1-carboxy-3-phenyl-(lS)-propylamino-2,3,4,  5-tetrahydro-1H-(3S)l-benzazepine-2-one,  3-(5-amino-l› carboxy-1S-pentyl)amino-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-3S-1H- 1-benzazepine 1-acetic acid, 3-(1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl› ( lS)-propylamino )-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-(3S)› benzazepine-l -acetic  acid  monohydrochloride;  nitroglycerin, triprolidine, tripelenamine, diphenhydramine,  physostigmine, arecoline, and nicotine. Uncharged, nonion- izable active agents are preferred, as are acid addition salts  of basic drugs. Of the latter group, the hydrochloride salt is  most preferred.  [0232]  IV. Pharmaceutical Formulations  [0233]  One embodiment of the invention is a composition  for the enhanced delivery of a drug through a body surface,  comprising a formulation of: ( a) a therapeutically effective  amount of the drug; (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable  inorganic or organic base in an amount effective to provide  a  pH  within the range of about 8.0-13.0 at the localized  region of the body surface during administration of the drug  and to enhance the flux of the drug through the body surface  without causing damage thereto; and (c) a pharmaceutically  acceptable carrier suitable for topical or transdermal drug  administration. The formulation is typically, but not neces› sarily, an aqueous formulation. The pH is more preferably  about 8.5-11.5, more preferably about 9.5-11.5 and most  preferably about 10.0 to 11.5.  [0234]  Accordingly, while the method of delivery of the  active agent may vary, the method will typically involve  application of a formulation or drug delivery system con› taining a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic  base to a predetermined area of the skin or other tissue for  a period of time sufficient to provide the desired local or  systemic effect. The method may involve direct application  of the composition as an ointment, gel, cream, or the like, or  may involve use of a drug delivery device. In either case,  water is preferably present in order for the hydroxide ions to  be provided by the base, and thus enhance the flux of the  active agent through the patient’s body surface. Thus, such  a formulation or drug reservoir may be aqueous, i.e., contain  water, or may be nonaqueous and used in combination with  an occlusive backing layer so that moisture evaporating  from the body surface is maintained within the formulation  or transdermal system during drug administration. In some  cases, however, e.g., with an occlusive gel, a nonaqueous  formulation may be used with or without an occlusive  backing layer. Suitable formulations include ointments,  creams, gels, lotions, solutions, pastes, and the like. Oint› ments, as is well known in the art of pharmaceutical for› mulation, are semisolid preparations that are typically based  on petrolatum or other petroleum derivatives. The specific  ointment foundation to be used, as will be appreciated by  those skilled in the art, is one that will provide for optimum  drug delivery, and, preferably, will provide for other desired  characteristics as well, e.g., emolliency or the like. As with  other carriers or vehicles, the ointment foundation should be  inert, stable, nonirritating and nonsensitizing. As explained  in  Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy,  20 th  edition (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000), ointment  foundations may be grouped in four classes: oleaginous,  emulsifiable, emulsion, and water-soluble. Oleaginous oint› ment foundations include, for example, vegetable oils, fats  obtained  from  animals,  and  semisolid  hydrocarbons  obtained from petroleum. Emulsifiable ointment founda› tions, also known as absorbent ointment foundations, con› tain little or no water and include, for example, hydroxys› tearin sulfate, anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum.  Emulsion ointment foundations are either water-in-oil  (W/0)  emulsions or oil-in-water  (0/W)  emulsions, and  include, for example, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, 