[0216] ophthalmic drugs: physostigmine sulfate; 

[0217] oxytocics: dinoprostone; 

[0218] peripheral vascular dilators: cyclandelate, isoxsuprine and papaverine; 

[0219] prostaglandins: alprostadil, dinoprostone, and epoprostenol ( e.g., epoprostenol sodium); 

[0220] sedatives and hypnotics: diphenylhydramine HCl, melatonin, propofol, triazolam, zalepion, and zolpidem tartrate; 

[0221] serotonin antagonists: alosetron HCl, altanserin tartrate, amesergide and ketanserin; ritanserin; 

[0222] serotonin receptor agonists: 5HT receptor antagonists such as naratriptan HCl, rizatriptan ben› zoate, sumatriptan succinate, and zolmitriptan; 

[0223] serotonin receptor antagonists: 5HT$_{3 }$ (seroto› nin subtype 3 receptor) antagonists such as dolas› etron, granisetron hydrochloride, ondansetron hydrochloride, and tropisetron; 

[0224] 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; 

[0225] thyroid preparations: antithyroid agents ( e.g., methimazole), synthetic T3 compounds (e.g., liothy› ronine sodium), and synthetic T4 compounds (e.g., levothyroxine sodium); 

[0226] tocolytic: salbutamol and ritodrine; 

[0227] topoimerase inhibitors: topotecan and irinote› can; 

[0228] Tourette’s Syndrome agents: haloperidol and primozide; and 

[0229] wart preparations: imiquimod. 

[0230] 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. 

[0231] 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› ( lS)-propylamino )-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-(3S)› benzazepine-l -acetic acid monohydrochloride; 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. 

[0232] IV. Pharmaceutical Formulations 

[0233] 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 8.5-11.5, more preferably about 9.5-11.5 and most preferably about 10.0 to 11.5. 

[0234] 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. Suitable formulations include ointments, creams, gels, lotions, solutions, pastes, and the like. Oint› ments, as is well known in the art of pharmaceutical for› mulation, are semisolid preparations that are typically based on petrolatum or other petroleum derivatives. The specific ointment foundation 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 Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20 th edition (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000), ointment foundations may be grouped in four classes: oleaginous, emulsifiable, emulsion, and water-soluble. Oleaginous oint› ment foundations include, for example, vegetable oils, fats obtained from animals, and semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. Emulsifiable ointment founda› tions, also known as absorbent ointment foundations, con› tain little or no water and include, for example, hydroxys› tearin sulfate, anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Emulsion ointment foundations are either water-in-oil (W/0) emulsions or oil-in-water (0/W) emulsions, and include, for example, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, 

