transdermal
Meaning of transdermal: Transdermal describes a medication delivery method in which a drug passes through unbroken skin into the bloodstream, often using a patch.
Definition of transdermal
Transdermal describes the delivery of a substance, most often a medication, through unbroken skin and into the bloodstream. This route is commonly achieved using an adhesive patch containing the drug, which is worn on the skin and releases medication gradually over a set period of time.
Because the medication is absorbed continuously through the skin, a transdermal route can provide a steadier level of drug in the bloodstream compared with a dose taken by mouth, and it avoids the digestive breakdown a medication undergoes when swallowed. Transdermal products are used for a variety of medications, including certain pain relievers, hormone therapies, and smoking cessation aids.
The rate at which a medication is absorbed transdermally can be affected by factors such as skin thickness, temperature, and the specific formulation of the patch or product.
How transdermal is built
- trans- Prefix · Latin across, through
- cutane/o, derm/o Combining form · Latin skin
- -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic Suffix · Greek and Latin pertaining to, relating to
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Used in a sentence
The patient was switched to a transdermal patch for more consistent pain control.
Good to know
A transdermal patch delivers medication continuously over its wearing period, which differs from an oral dose that produces a peak and decline in drug level after each administration.
Word origin
Where “transdermal” comes from
Formed from trans- (Latin, meaning "across") and dermal, from Greek derma, meaning "skin."