Compositions, methods and devices for the transdermal delivery of drugs

1. A composition consisting essentially of:

(a) 3-12% of a base mixture consisting essentially of: 50-80% (by weight) methyl cellulose, 15-25% of a natural gum selected from the xanthin and guar gums, 3-7% glucose, 2-3.5% propylparaben, 1.5-3% methylparaben, 1-3% sodium chloride and 0.75-3.5% pectin;

(b) 0.5-15% by weight of a substituted urea of the formula R--NH--CO--NH.sub.2, wherein R is hydrogen, hydroxyl or lower alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl and octyl;

(c) 5-20% by weight of a hormone selected from the group consisting of progesterone, progestin, estrogen, and testosterone, or a mixture of any two or more of the foregoing;

(d) 0-20% by weight propylene glycol; and

(e) 20-80% by weight water;

in which said base mixture and water form a hydrogel.

2. A composition consisting essentially of:

(a) about 9% by weight of a base mixture consisting essentially of: about 63% (by weight) methyl cellulose, about 21% guar gum, about 5% glucose, about 3.5% propylparaben, about 3% methylparaben, about 1.5% sodium chloride and about 3% pectin;

(b) about 2% by weight of a substituted urea of the formula: R--NH--CO--NH.sub.2, wherein R is hydrogen, hydroxyl or lower alkyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl and octyl;

(c) about 10% by weight of progesterone;

(d) about 20% by weight propylene glycol; and

(e) 59% by weight water; in which said base mixture and water form a hydrogel.

3. A composition consisting essentially of:

(a) about 9% by weight of a base mixture consisting essentially of: about 63% (by weight) methyl cellulose, about 21% guar gum, about 5% glucose, about 3.5% propylparaben, about 3% methylparaben, about 1.5% sodium chloride and about 3% pectin;

(b) about 2% by weight butylurea;

(c) about 10% by weight of progesterone;

(d) about 20% by weight propylene glycol; and

(e) about 59% by weight water;

in which said base mixture and water form a hydrogel.

4. A composition consisting essentially of:

(a) a base mixture consisting essentially of methyl cellulose, guar gum, glucose, propylparaben, methyl paraben, sodium chloride and pectin;

(b) butylurea

(c) progesterone

(d) propylene glycol; and

(e) water;

in which said base mixture and water from a hydrogel.

5. A method of treating or preventing a condition responsive to hormone replacement therapy comprising placing a composition of claim 1 or 2, said composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of said hormone or mixture of hormones, in contact with the skin of a subject in need of such treatment.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of premenstrual syndrome, menopause, infertility, osteoporosis, dysfunctional bleeding, corpus luteum failure, senile vulvo-vaginitis, and hypogonadism.

7. A method of providing contraception to a male or female subject comprising placing a composition of claim 1 or 2, said composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of said hormone or mixture of hormones, in contact with the skin of a subject in need of contraception.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said subject is female and said hormone or mixture of hormones is selected from the group consisting of progesterone, progestin, estrogen, and a mixture of any two or more of the foregoing.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said hormone is a mixture of one or more estrogens and one or more protesting.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said hormone is a mixture of progesterone and one or more estrogens.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of progesterone and progestins.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said subject is a male and said hormone is testosterone.

13. A method of delivering a therapeutically effective amount of a hormone or mixture of hormones to the bloodstream of a subject comprising contacting the skin of said subject with a composition of claim 1 or 2 comprising a therapeutically effective amount of said hormone or mixture of hormones.

14. A method for treating vaginal yeast infection comprising placing a composition of claim 1 or 2 inside the vagina of a female subject suffering from yeast infection.

15. A method for providing contraception to a female subject comprising placing a composition of claim 1 or 2 inside the vagina of a female subject in need of contraception.

16. A method for treating vaginal dryness comprising placing a composition of claim 1 or 2 inside the vagina of a female subject suffering from vaginal dryness.

17. A method for vaginal delivery of a drug comprising placing a composition of claim 1 or 2 inside the vagina of a female subject.