Nov.  4, 2004  18  US 2004/0220262 Al  [0216]  muscle relaxants: baclofen, cyclobenzaprine and  cyclobenzaprine HCl, dantrolene, ritodrine HCl, tizanidine  HCl, and tolterodine tartrate;  [0217]  nicotine;  [0218]  narcotic antagonists: naloxone, particularly nalox› one hydrochloride;  [0219]  nutritional agents, including vitamins, minerals,  essential amino acids and fatty acids, such as chromium  picolinate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B$_{12}$ ),  ferric glyconate,  ferric sulfate, ferrous glyconate, ferrous salt, ferrous sulfate,  folic acid, vitamin C, zinc acetate, and zinc sulfate;  [0220]  ophthalmic drugs: physostigmine sulfate;  [0221]  oxytocics: dinoprostone;  [0222]  peripheral vascular dilators: cyclandelate, isoxsu› prine and papaverine;  [0223]  prostaglandins: alprostadil, dinoprostone, and epo› prostenol (e.g., epoprostenol sodium);  [0224]  sedatives and hypnotics: diphenylhydramine HCl,  melatonin, propofol, triazolam, zalepion, and zolpidem tar› trate;  [0225]  serotonin antagonists: alosetron HCl, altanserin  tartrate, amesergide and ketanserin; ritanserin;  [0226]  serotonin receptor agonists: SHT receptor antago› nists such as naratriptan HCl, rizatriptan benzoate, sumatrip› tan succinate, and zolmitriptan;  [0227]  serotonin receptor antagonists: SHT  3  (serotonin  subtype 3 receptor) antagonists such as dolasetron, granis› etron hydrochloride, ondansetron hydrochloride, and tro› pisetron;  [0228]  steroids:  betamethasone  and  augmented  betamethasone,  clobetasol propionate,  desoximetasone,  diflorasone diacetate, fluocinonide, flurandrenolide, fluti› cansone (e.g., fluticansonepropionate), halobetasol propi› onate, hydrocortisone, mometasone furonate, and prednicar› bate;  [0229]  thyroid preparations:  antithyroid  agents ( e.g.,  methimazole), synthetic T3 compounds (e.g., liothyronine  sodium), and synthetic T4 compounds (e.g., levothyroxine  sodium);  [0230]  tocolytic: salbutamol and ritodrine;  [0231]  topoimerase inhibitors: topotecan and irinotecan;  [0232]  Tourette’s Syndrome agents: haloperidol and pri› mozide; and  [0233]  wart preparations: imiquimod.  [0234]  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.  [0235]  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› ( 1 S)-propy lamina )-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-(  3S)› benzazepine-l -acetic  acid  mono hydrochloride;  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.  [0236]  IV. Pharmaceutical Formulations  [0237]  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 8.0-11.5, and most preferably about 8.5-10.5.  [0238]  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.  [0239]  Suitable formulations include ointments, creams,  gels, lotions, solutions, pastes, and the like. Ointments, as is  well known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation, are  semisolid preparations that are typically based on petrolatum  or other petroleum derivatives. The specific ointment foun› dation 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  Reming› ton: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy,  20 th  edition  (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000), ointment founda› tions may be grouped in four classes: oleaginous, emulsifi› able, emulsion, and water-soluble. Oleaginous ointment  foundations include, for example, vegetable oils, fats 