Gum pad for delivery of medication to mucosal tissues

A medication delivery method of delivering medication into the human circulatory system from within the mouth of a person, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a pad having a nonporous first layer, a second layer for retaining a medication therein, and a semi-permeable third layer covering the second layer and sealed to said first layer so as to form a sealed pocket enclosing said second layer;
• (b) impregnating said second layer with medication to be delivered into the human circulatory system;
• and
• (c) placing said pad on a supporting part within the mouth of the person with said semi-permeable third layer facing outwardly toward mucosal tissue in the mouth so as to permit saliva within the mouth to Penetrate into said semi-permeable third layer and liquify the medication in said second layer and transport it by diffusion through said semi-permeable third layer for absorption into the mucosal tissue,
• wherein the medication retained in said second layer is selected from the group consisting of:
• anticonvulsants;
• anxiolytics;
• anesthetics;
• analgesics;
• peptides;
• antiemetics;
• and beta-adrenergic blockers.

A method of treating human systemic disease or disorder by delivery of medication into the human circulatory system through mucosal tissue within the mouth of a person, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a pad having a medication soluble by saliva retained therein with a semi-permeable outer layer covering the medication retained in the pad, said semi-permeable outer layer facing outwardly toward mucosal tissue within the mouth of the person;
• (b) placing said pad on a supporting part within the mouth of the person with said semi-permeable third layer facing outwardly toward mucosal tissue in the mouth so as to permit saliva within the mouth to penetrate into said semi-permeable third layer and liquify the medication in said second layer;
• and
• (c) permitting saliva within the mouth to penetrate into the pad through said semi-permeable outer layer to liquify the medication retained therein;
• and
• (d) transporting the medication dissolved in the saliva by diffusion through said semi-permeable outer layer for absorption into the mucosal tissue within the mouth of the person where it can enter into the human circulatory system.