[0216] muscle relaxants: baclofen, cyclobenzaprine and cyclobenzaprine HCl, dantrolene, ritodrine HCl, tizanidine HCl, and tolterodine tartrate; 

[0217] nicotine; 

[0218] narcotic antagonists: naloxone, particularly nalox› one hydrochloride; 

[0219] nutritional agents, including vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and fatty acids, such as chromium picolinate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B$_{12}$ ), ferric glyconate, ferric sulfate, ferrous glyconate, ferrous salt, ferrous sulfate, folic acid, vitamin C, zinc acetate, and zinc sulfate; 

[0220] ophthalmic drugs: physostigmine sulfate; 

[0221] oxytocics: dinoprostone; 

[0222] peripheral vascular dilators: cyclandelate, isoxsu› prine and papaverine; 

[0223] prostaglandins: alprostadil, dinoprostone, and epo› prostenol (e.g., epoprostenol sodium); 

[0224] sedatives and hypnotics: diphenylhydramine HCl, melatonin, propofol, triazolam, zalepion, and zolpidem tar› trate; 

[0225] serotonin antagonists: alosetron HCl, altanserin tartrate, amesergide and ketanserin; ritanserin; 

[0226] serotonin receptor agonists: SHT receptor antago› nists such as naratriptan HCl, rizatriptan benzoate, sumatrip› tan succinate, and zolmitriptan; 

[0227] serotonin receptor antagonists: SHT 3 (serotonin subtype 3 receptor) antagonists such as dolasetron, granis› etron hydrochloride, ondansetron hydrochloride, and tro› pisetron; 

[0228] steroids: betamethasone and augmented betamethasone, clobetasol propionate, desoximetasone, diflorasone diacetate, fluocinonide, flurandrenolide, fluti› cansone (e.g., fluticansonepropionate), halobetasol propi› onate, hydrocortisone, mometasone furonate, and prednicar› bate; 

[0229] thyroid preparations: antithyroid agents ( e.g., methimazole), synthetic T3 compounds (e.g., liothyronine sodium), and synthetic T4 compounds (e.g., levothyroxine sodium); 

[0230] tocolytic: salbutamol and ritodrine; 

[0231] topoimerase inhibitors: topotecan and irinotecan; 

[0232] Tourette’s Syndrome agents: haloperidol and pri› mozide; and 

[0233] wart preparations: imiquimod. 

[0234] Genetic material may also be delivered using the methods, formulations and transdermal systems of the invention, e.g., a nucleic acid, RNA, DNA, recombinant RNA, recombinant DNA, antisense RNA, antisense DNA, a ribooligonucleotide, a deooxyriboonucleotide, an antisense ribooligonucleotide, or an antisense deoxyriboooligonucle› otide. 

[0235] Particularly preferred systemically active agents that can be administered transdermally in conjunction with the present invention are as follows: buprenorphine, fenta› nyl, sufentanil, terbutaline, formoterol, albuterol, theophyl- 

line, estradiol, progesterone, scopolamine, enalapril, l-car› boxymethyl-3-1-carboxy-3-phenyl-(lS)-propylamino-2,3,4, 5-tetrahydro-1H-(3S)l-benzazepine-2-one, 3-( 5-amino-l› carboxy-1S-pentyl)amino-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-3S-1H- 1-benzazepine 1-acetic acid, 3-(1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl› ( 1 S)-propy lamina )-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-( 3S)› benzazepine-l -acetic acid mono hydrochloride; nitroglycerin, triprolidine, tripelenamine, diphenhydramine, physostigmine, arecoline, and nicotine. Uncharged, nonion› izable active agents are preferred, as are acid addition salts of basic drugs. Of the latter group, the hydrochloride salt is most preferred. 

[0236] IV. Pharmaceutical Formulations 

[0237] One embodiment of the invention is a composition for the enhanced delivery of a drug through a body surface, comprising a formulation of: ( a) a therapeutically effective amount of the drug; (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic base in an amount effective to provide a pH within the range of about 8.0-13.0 at the localized region of the body surface during administration of the drug and to enhance the flux of the drug through the body surface without causing damage thereto; and (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier suitable for topical or transdermal drug administration. The formulation is typically, but not neces› sarily, an aqueous formulation. The pH is more preferably about 8.0-11.5, and most preferably about 8.5-10.5. 

[0238] Accordingly, while the method of delivery of the active agent may vary, the method will typically involve application of a formulation or drug delivery system con› taining a pharmaceutically acceptable inorganic or organic base to a predetermined area of the skin or other tissue for a period of time sufficient to provide the desired local or systemic effect. The method may involve direct application of the composition as an ointment, gel, cream, or the like, or may involve use of a drug delivery device. In either case, water is preferably present in order for the hydroxide ions to be provided by the base, and thus enhance the flux of the active agent through the patient’s body surface. Thus, such a formulation or drug reservoir may be aqueous, i.e., contain water, or may be nonaqueous and used in combination with an occlusive backing layer so that moisture evaporating from the body surface is maintained within the formulation or transdermal system during drug administration. In some cases, however, e.g., with an occlusive gel, a nonaqueous formulation may be used with or without an occlusive backing layer. 

[0239] Suitable formulations include ointments, creams, gels, lotions, solutions, pastes, and the like. Ointments, as is well known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation, are semisolid preparations that are typically based on petrolatum or other petroleum derivatives. The specific ointment foun› dation to be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, is one that will provide for optimum drug delivery, and, preferably, will provide for other desired characteristics as well, e.g., emolliency or the like. As with other carriers or vehicles, the ointment foundation should be inert, stable, nonirritating and nonsensitizing. As explained in Reming› ton: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20 th edition (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000), ointment founda› tions may be grouped in four classes: oleaginous, emulsifi› able, emulsion, and water-soluble. Oleaginous ointment foundations include, for example, vegetable oils, fats 

