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[0070] The active agent administered also may be one that is cosmetically or "cosmeceutically" effective rather than pharmacologically active. Such agents include, for example, compounds that can reduce the appearance of aging or pho› todamaged skin, e.g., a-hydroxyacids, a-ketoacids, poly› meric hydroxyacids, moisturizers, collagen, marine extract, and antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C), a-toco› pherol (Vitamin E), ~-tocopherol, y-tocopherol, o-toco› pherol, E-tocopherol, s$_{1}$-tocopherol, s$_{2}$-tocopherol, 17-toco› pherol, and retinal (vitamin A), and/or cosmetically acceptable salts, esters, amides, or other derivatives thereof. A preferred tocopherol compound is a-tocopherol. Additional cosmetic agents include those that are capable of improving oxygen supply in skin tissue, as described, for example, in Gross, et al, WO 94/00098 and Gross, et al, WO 94/00109, both assigned to Lancaster Group AG. Sunscreens may also be included. 

[ 0071] The active agent may be administered, if desired, in the form of a salt, ester, amide, prodrug, derivative, or the like, provided the salt, ester, amide, prodrug or derivative is suit› able pharmacologically. Salts, esters, amides, prodrugs and other derivatives of the active agents may be prepared using 

standard procedures known to those skilled in the art of syn› thetic organic chemistry and described, for example, by March’s Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mecha› nisms and Structure, 5th Ed. (Wiley-Interscience, 2001). 

[0072] For example, acid addition salts are prepared from the free base (e.g., an amine drug) using conventional meth› odology, by reaction with a suitable acid. Generally, the base form of the drug is dissolved in a polarorganic solvent such as methanol or ethanol and the acid is added thereto. The result› ing salt either precipitates or is brought out of solution by the addition of a less polar solvent. Suitable acids for preparing acid addition salts include both organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, and the like), as well as inorganic acids (e.g., hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like). An acid addition salt may be reconverted to the free base by treatment with a suitable base. Particularly preferred acid addition salts of the active agents herein are halide salts, such as may be prepared using hydrochloric or hydrobromic acids. 

[0073] Preparation of basic salts of acids are prepared in a similar manner using a pharmaceutically acceptable base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, trimethylamine, or the like. Particularly preferred basic salts herein are alkali metal salts, e.g., the sodium salt, and copper salts. 

[0074] Preparation of esters involves functionalization of hydroxyl and/or carboxyl groups that may be present within the molecular structure of the drug. The esters are typically acyl-substituted derivatives of free alcohol groups, i.e., moi› eties that are derived from carboxylic acids of the formula RCOOH where R is alkyl, and preferably is lower alkyl. Esters can be reconverted to the free acids, if desired, by using conventional hydrogenolysis or hydrolysis procedures. Amides and prodrugs may also be prepared using techniques known to those skilled in the art or described in the pertinent literature. For example, amides may be prepared from esters, using suitable amine reactants, or they may be prepared from an anhydride or an acid chloride by reaction with ammonia or a lower alkyl amine. Prodrugs are typically prepared by cova› lent attachment of a moiety, which results in a compound that is therapeutically inactive until modified by an individual’s metabolic system. 

[0075] For those active agents that are chiral in nature and can thus be in an enantiomerically pure form or in a racemic mixture, the drug may be incorporated into the formulation either as the racemate or in the enantiomerically pure form. 

[0076] The amount of active agent administered will depend on a number of factors and will vary from subject to subject and depend on the particular drug administered, the particular disorder or condition being treated, the severity of the symptoms, the subject’s age, weight and general condi› tion, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. Other factors, specific to transdermal drug delivery, include the solubility and permeability of the carrier and adhesive layer in a drug delivery device, if one is used, and the period of time for which such a system will be fixed to the skin or other body surface. The minimum amount of drug is determined by the requirement that sufficient quantities of drug must be present in a device or composition to maintain the desired rate of release over the given period of application. The maximum 

