MCQ TRANSDERMAL

1.

Trans dermal drug delivery systems systems offer the following advantages, choose the
correct statements from below,
[1]: They produce high peak plasma concentration of the drug
[2]: They produce smooth and non fluctuating plasma concentration of the drug
[3]: They minimise inter individual variations in the achieved plasma drug concentration
[4]: They avoid hepatic first-pass metabolism of the drug
4, 2, 3

Alternative routes of administration like suppository, intravenous, intramuscular, inhalational aerosol, transdermal, and
sublingual avoid the first-pass effect because they allow drugs to be absorbed directly into the systemic circulation.

2. Match List-I (Type) with List-II (Method)and select the correct answer using the codes
given below the lists:

List I List II

A. Membrane modulated system i. Drug is homogenously dispersed in polymer and

B. Diffusion controlled system
C. Matrix dispersion system
D. Microreservoir system
then moulded a patch.
ii. Drug reservoir is encapsulated in rate controlling
polymer patch.
iii. Drug is dispersed in hydrophilic polymer and
then cross linked with lipophilic polymer by high
shear mechanical force.
iv. Drug is directly dispersed in polymer patch.

a) A-ii B-i C-iii D-iv b) A-iii B-iv C-ii D-i

c) A-ii B-iv C-iii D-i d) A-iii B-i C-ii D-iv

The fentanyl ITS system:

(a) Uses ultrasound waves to drive drug molecules across the skin.

(b) Gives a peak plasma fentanyl concentration in approximately 40 min.

(c) Has the disadvantage of being very bulky.

(d) Delivers a maximum of 40 mg of fentanyl every 10 min.

(e) Causes a slow fall in plasma fentanyl concentrations after its removal, because of skin deposition.

Explanation: The active delivery of fentanyl means that the mean time to peak fentanyl serum
concentration is greatly reduced: being only 39 min in one study. After discontinuation of fentanyl
PCA, plasma concentrations decrease at a rate similar to that following i.v. administration,
suggesting that there is no development of a skin depot. The fentanyl ITS system has been shown to
be superior to placebo in randomized controlled trials. (Power I. Fentanyl HCliontophoretic
transdermal system (ITS): clinical application of iontophoretic technology in the management of
acute postoperative pain. Br J Anaesth 2007; 98: 4–11)

Physicochemical characteristics of a drug that decrease its transdermal penetration include:

(a) Molecular weight below 500 Da.

(b) High melting point.

(c) Non ionic form.

(d) High concentration.

(e) High partition coefficient between skin and drug patch.

The fentanyl transdermal patch:

(a) Is available only in matrix form.

(b) Has an elimination half-life of 20 h after patch removal.

(c) Delivers more drug with exposure to heat.

(d) Forms a depot within skin layers.

(e) Has increased elimination when administered with CYP3A4 inhibitors.