Trinitroglycerol sustained release vehicles and preparation therefrom

A polymeric diffusion matrix for the transdermal systemic delivery of polymeric fixed dimension gelled trinitroglycerol through the skin of a patient comprising about 10 to about 40% of

• a first lower molecular weight polyvinylalcohol component that is hydrolyzed to a degree of hydrolysis of about 75 to about 92% and has a molecular weight in the range of from about 5,000 to about 40,000;
• about 2% to about 15% of
• a second higher molecular weight polyvinylalcohol component that is hydrolyzed to a degree of hydrolysis of at least 95% and has a molecular weight in the range of from about 90,000 to about 150,000;
• and about 2 to about 25% of
• glycerol, said polymeric diffusion matrix containing sufficient substantially disaccharide-free trinitroglycerol bound to a polymer as a triturate in a non-explosive flowable fixed dimension gel form, said polymer being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene glycol, polymethacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate-vinyl chloride polymer, and mixtures thereof to be released over a prolonged period of time.