Medicine in a Patch

An increasing range of medicines is now available in patch form, including nicotine and hormone replacement therapy, the contraceptive pill and a variety of painkillers, such as anti-inflammatories. Some are designed to be worn for just a day, while others will last for up to a week.

The drug is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the skin and, unlike taking pills orally, this gives a steady dose over a period of time, reducing the risk of digestive side-effects. Patches are also definitely worth a try if you have some difficulty in remembering to take pills.