[0213] hypocalcemics: calcitriol; 

[0214] immunosuppressive agents: tacrolimus and sirolimus; 

[0215] leukotriene inhibitors: montelukast sodium; 

[0216] motion sickness drugs: promethazine HCl and scopolamine; 

[0217] muscle relaxants: baclofen, cyclobenzaprine and cyclobenzaprine HCl, dantrolene, ritodrine HCl, tizanidine HCl, and tolterodine tartrate; 

[0218] nicotine; 

[0219] narcotic antagonists: naloxone, particularly naloxone hydrochloride; 

[0220] nutritional agents, including vitamins, miner› als, essential amino acids and fatty acids, such as chromium picolinate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B$_{12}$ ), ferric glyconate, ferric sulfate, ferrous glycon› ate, ferrous salt, ferrous sulfate, folic acid, vitamin C, zinc acetate, and zinc sulfate; 

[0221] ophthalmic drugs: physostigmine sulfate; 

[0222] oxytocics: dinoprostone; 

[0223] peripheral vascular dilators: cyclandelate, isoxsuprine and papaverine; 

[0224] prostaglandins: alprostadil, dinoprostone, and epoprostenol ( e.g., epoprostenol sodium); 

[0225] sedatives and hypnotics: diphenylhydramine HCl, melatonin, propofol, triazolam, zalepion, and zolpidem tartrate; 

[0226] serotonin antagonists: alosetron HCl, altanserin tartrate, amesergide and ketanserin; ritanserin; 

[0227] serotonin receptor agonists: SHT receptor antagonists such as naratriptan HCl, rizatriptan ben› zoate, sumatriptan succinate, and zolmitriptan; 

[0228] serotonin receptor antagonists: SHT 3 (seroto› nin subtype 3 receptor) antagonists such as dolas› etron, granisetron hydrochloride, ondansetron hydrochloride, and tropisetron; 

[0229] steroids: betamethasone and augmented betamethasone, clobetasol propionate, desoximeta› sone, diflorasone diacetate, fluocinonide, flurandre› nolide, fluticansone ( e.g., fluticansonepropionate ), halobetasol propionate, hydrocortisone, mometasone furonate, and prednicarbate; 

[0230] thyroid preparations: antithyroid agents ( e.g., methimazole), synthetic T3 compounds (e.g., liothy› ronine sodium), and synthetic T4 compounds (e.g., levothyroxine sodium); 

[0231] tocolytic: salbutamol and ritodrine; 

[0232] topoimerase inhibitors: topotecan and irinote› can; 

[0233] Tourette’s Syndrome agents: haloperidol and primozide; and 

[0234] wart preparations: imiquimod. 

[0235] 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. 

[0236] 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. 

[0237] IV. Pharmaceutical Formulations 

[0238] 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. 

[0239] 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. 

[0240] 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 faun- 

