Topical application of opioid analgesic drugs such as morphine

A topical pharmaceutical composition comprising an admixture of an opioid analgesic agent, a skin- or mucosal-specific penetration enhancer and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient for topical administration to inflamed or non-inflamed skin or mucosal tissue, wherein

• a unit dosage amount of the admixture contains a systemically ineffective amount of the opioid analgesic agent, and
• the amount of penetration enhancer is effective to enhance penetration of the opioid agent into the skin or mucosal tissue, and
• the penetration enhancer and excipient do not enhance transdermal or transmucosal transmission of the opioid analgesic agent to the systemic circulation,
• with the proviso that, when the admixture is a liquid, it further comprises a component that is pharmaceutically unacceptable for parenteral administration,
• wherein the opioid analgesic agent is morphine, cyclazocine, piperidine, piperazine, pyrrolidine, morphiceptin, trifluadom, benzeneacetamine, diacylacetamide, benzomorphan, heroin, hydromorphone, levophanol, methadone, meperidine, fentanyl, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, propoxyphene, buprenorphine, butorphanol, pentazocine or nalbuphine, and
• wherein a unit dosage amount of the opioid analgesic agent is analgesically equivalent to up to 3 mg of morphine per 6 in.sup.2 of skin.