Therapeutic system for administering clonidine transdermally

A therapeutic system in the form of a skin patch for administering 2,6-dichloro-N-2-imidazolidinylidene benzeneamine continuously and transdermally through a predetermined area of unbroken skin in a controlled manner for a prolonged time period to effect central alpha-adrenergic stimulation comprising a sandwich-type laminate of:

• (a) a backing lamina that is substantially impermeable to the benzeneamine, one face of which forms the top of the patch;
• (b) a benzeneamine reservoir lamina adjacent the opposite face of the backing lamina comprising:
• (i) an amount of said benzeneamine at least equal to that required to provide said benzeneamine for said prolonged time period at a central alpha-adrenergic stimulating rate, dispersed in
• (ii) a carrier that is permeable to said benzeneamine;
• (c) a microporous membrane lamina adjacent and below the benzeneamine reservoir lamina through which the benzeneamine is released from the reservoir lamina at said rate after the skin patch is affixed to the skin;
• and
• (d) a contact adhesive lamina adjacent and below the microporous membrane lamina by which the patch is affixed to the skin comprising:
• (i) a contact adhesive that is permeable to the benzeneamine;
• and
• (ii) an amount of benzeneamine that constitutes at least a substantial portion of the quantity of the benzeneamine that is immobilized by said predetermined area of skin.