Patches are described as:

• A. Stick to patients skin, contain a semisolid or liquid form of medication that is absorbed through the skin then enters the bloodstream
• B. Are thinner creams
• C. Drug mixed with a waxy substance then pressed in a small round cone shape (rectal, vaginal)
• D. Medicines that are safe and effective under a doctor's care, must be prescribed

Answer: (A)

Patches deliver medicine through the skin into the bloodstream. They are designed to stick to clean, dry skin and release a semisolid or liquid drug that passes through the skin layers to produce a systemic effect over time. This distinguishes patches from creams, which stay on the skin and act locally; from suppositories, which are waxy and shaped for insertion into the rectum or vagina; and from statements about prescription status, which isn’t about the method of delivery. Nicotine patches, for example, provide a steady dose by transdermal delivery, illustrating how this form works.