A drug can be administered by a transdermal route only if certain properties are present.
Features of a drug that can be administered transdermally - all or most of the following:
(1) low molecular weight (< 600 daltons)
(2) pKa close to physiologc pH
(3) low melting point (the lower the melting point, the better the skin penetration)
(4) balance of both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties
(5) high solubility in the formulation
(6) therapeutic at a low dose
(7) minimal adverse skin effects
(8) stable in the skin environment, with a low rate of metabolic inactivation
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Specialty: Pharmacology, clinical
