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American Morning
Paging Dr. Gupta: Transdermal Patches
Aired November 15, 2002 - 08:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Some people who are trying to quit smoking use them. Others use them to deliver birth control medicine. Now, transdermal patches are becoming a very popular ways to take other medicines. What's behind the increased popularity, and how well do they work? We have got the man with the answers, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is standing by in Atlanta.
Good morning, Sanjay.
Have you used them?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
I have not used them. A lot of people think of medication, taking pills, getting shots, but these transdermal patches, as you said, becoming increasingly popular. We first heard about them with nitroglycerine for chest pain and scapolomine (ph) fir motion sickness, but take a look at the list of medications now that are being used for all sorts of different purposes, these transdermal patches. You've got the nicotine patches. You already mentioned the narcotic pain patch. You can see the list there, blood pressure drugs. The list goes on and on and on.
And the big key to this thing and one of the biggest advantage of these transdermal patches is the ease of compliance, a lot easier to use. Sometimes, you just have to remember once a week instead of once a day.
Take a look at some of the other advantages of these transdermal patches. We'll get to the disadvantages as well, but look at the advantages, less total dose of the medication required, maintains an even level of medicine within the blood. Patches can even be cut to try to achieve more precise dosing, and they're easy to use, better compliance, as we mentioned, Paula.
There are some disadvantages of using these transdermal patches. Take a look at some of the disadvantages. Skin irritation can occur in some people. And if that skin irritation occurs, you just may not be able to use the patches, period. Sometimes they fall off, and sometimes you don't even know if they fell off, and that can be a problem. Some patches cannot be immersed in water, but if you've been seeing the ad campaigns, Paula, like I have, you see women actually jumping into the swimming pool with some of these patches on. Large patches might be visible, so that can be a bit of a problem cosmetically. But overall, very popular, becoming increasingly popular, and a lot of medications potentially being used like this.
ZAHN: But there a lot of these in development too, right?
GUPTA: There are some in development, and some of the ones in development are really exciting. We have got a list of those as well. Some of the medications, overactive bladder medication, a male contraceptive, Parkinson's Disease treatment, and methylphenidate for ADHD. That's Ritalin, Paula. And this is a medication that people are really excited about, as possibly being used as a patch, getting some of these kids from having to take the pills during the school year, or stuff like that. And the patches, as I mentioned, can be cut for more precise dosing. That medication is not out yet as a transdermal, but possibly by the end of next year, they say, as soon as that, I should say, that Ritalin as a patch may be available.
ZAHN: Which actually would be a great relief to parents and school administrators, who are responsible for helping administer those to kids in school to keep kids calm. Do you think that realistically any drug can be delivered this way?
GUPTA: That's an interesting question, and the answer is probably no. There are some limitations to the patch. Basically, without getting too science-y, the medication has to be a small enough molecule to actually be absorbed across the skin. An example of a molecule that can't be done that way is actually insulin. Insulin, they say, is sort of the Holy Grail of transdermal medications. They'd love to get it into a transdermal form, but the insulin is just too big to be absorbed across the skin.
So bottom line, medications have to actually be small enough at the molecular structure to be transdermal -- Paula.
ZAHN: Keep us posted, doctor, as you always do.
GUPTA: I will.
ZAHN: Have a good weekend.
GUPTA: You, too. Take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 15, 2002 - 08:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Some people who are trying to quit smoking use them. Others use them to deliver birth control medicine. Now, transdermal patches are becoming a very popular ways to take other medicines. What's behind the increased popularity, and how well do they work? We have got the man with the answers, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is standing by in Atlanta.
Good morning, Sanjay.
Have you used them?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
I have not used them. A lot of people think of medication, taking pills, getting shots, but these transdermal patches, as you said, becoming increasingly popular. We first heard about them with nitroglycerine for chest pain and scapolomine (ph) fir motion sickness, but take a look at the list of medications now that are being used for all sorts of different purposes, these transdermal patches. You've got the nicotine patches. You already mentioned the narcotic pain patch. You can see the list there, blood pressure drugs. The list goes on and on and on.
And the big key to this thing and one of the biggest advantage of these transdermal patches is the ease of compliance, a lot easier to use. Sometimes, you just have to remember once a week instead of once a day.
Take a look at some of the other advantages of these transdermal patches. We'll get to the disadvantages as well, but look at the advantages, less total dose of the medication required, maintains an even level of medicine within the blood. Patches can even be cut to try to achieve more precise dosing, and they're easy to use, better compliance, as we mentioned, Paula.
There are some disadvantages of using these transdermal patches. Take a look at some of the disadvantages. Skin irritation can occur in some people. And if that skin irritation occurs, you just may not be able to use the patches, period. Sometimes they fall off, and sometimes you don't even know if they fell off, and that can be a problem. Some patches cannot be immersed in water, but if you've been seeing the ad campaigns, Paula, like I have, you see women actually jumping into the swimming pool with some of these patches on. Large patches might be visible, so that can be a bit of a problem cosmetically. But overall, very popular, becoming increasingly popular, and a lot of medications potentially being used like this.
ZAHN: But there a lot of these in development too, right?
GUPTA: There are some in development, and some of the ones in development are really exciting. We have got a list of those as well. Some of the medications, overactive bladder medication, a male contraceptive, Parkinson's Disease treatment, and methylphenidate for ADHD. That's Ritalin, Paula. And this is a medication that people are really excited about, as possibly being used as a patch, getting some of these kids from having to take the pills during the school year, or stuff like that. And the patches, as I mentioned, can be cut for more precise dosing. That medication is not out yet as a transdermal, but possibly by the end of next year, they say, as soon as that, I should say, that Ritalin as a patch may be available.
ZAHN: Which actually would be a great relief to parents and school administrators, who are responsible for helping administer those to kids in school to keep kids calm. Do you think that realistically any drug can be delivered this way?
GUPTA: That's an interesting question, and the answer is probably no. There are some limitations to the patch. Basically, without getting too science-y, the medication has to be a small enough molecule to actually be absorbed across the skin. An example of a molecule that can't be done that way is actually insulin. Insulin, they say, is sort of the Holy Grail of transdermal medications. They'd love to get it into a transdermal form, but the insulin is just too big to be absorbed across the skin.
So bottom line, medications have to actually be small enough at the molecular structure to be transdermal -- Paula.
ZAHN: Keep us posted, doctor, as you always do.
GUPTA: I will.
ZAHN: Have a good weekend.
GUPTA: You, too. Take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
