TRANSMUCOSAL HORMONE DELIVERY SYSTEM

1 . A pharmaceutical composition containing melatonin in a solid dosage form for buccal or sublingual delivery comprising:

melatonin in an amount of about 0.05 mg to about 5 mg;

a liquid PEG in an amount of about 1 mg to about 50 mg;

a solid adsorbent in an amount up to about 50 mg;

a solid water-soluble excipient in an amount of about 25 mg to about 500 mg;

a disintegrant in an amount of about 0.5 mg to about 50 mg; and

a lubricant in an amount of about 0.1 mg to about 15 mg.

2 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 , further including a co-solvent in an amount of up to about 25 mg.

3 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 wherein suitable co-solvents include ethanol, propylene glycol, alcohols, polyols, and mixtures thereof.

4 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the solid adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose powder, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, silica, clay, talc, starch, pregelatinized starch, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

5 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the solid water-soluble excipient is selected from the group consisting of a sugar, a polyol, a saccharide, a polysaccharide, a dextrate, a dextrin, dextrose, fructose, lactitol, lactose, erythritol, maltose, maltitol, a maltodextrin, a polydextrose, trehalose, mannitol, a polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, sucrose, xylitol and mixtures thereof.

6 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the disintegrant is selected from the group consisting of sodium starch glycolate, crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch, microcrystalline cellulose and mixtures thereof.

7 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of sodium stearyl fumarate, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, polyethylene glycol, calcium stearate and mixtures thereof.

8 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 wherein the solid adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose powder, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, silica, clay, talc, starch, pregelatinized starch, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

9 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 wherein the solid water-soluble excipient is selected from the group consisting of a sugar, a polyol, a saccharide, a polysaccharide, a dextrate, a dextrin, dextrose, fructose, lactitol, lactose, erythritol, maltose, maltitol, a maltodextrin, a polydextrose, trehalose, mannitol, a polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, sucrose, xylitol and mixtures thereof.

10 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 wherein the disintegrant is selected from the group consisting of sodium starch glycolate, crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch, microcrystalline cellulose and mixtures thereof.

11 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of sodium stearyl fumarate, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, polyethylene glycol, calcium stearate and mixtures thereof.

12 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 comprising:

melatonin in an amount to provide about 1 mg of melatonin;

a liquid polyethylene glycol (PEG) in an amount of about 4.73 mg;

silica in an amount of about 3.81 mg;

mannitol in an amount of about 48.56 mg;

hydroxypropylcellulose in an amount of about 10.5 mg; and

sodium stearyl fumarate in an amount of about 1.4 mg.

13 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 2 containing melatonin in a solid dosage form for buccal or sublingual delivery comprising:

melatonin in an amount to provide about 1 mg of melatonin;

PEG 400 in an amount of about 6.3 mg;

silica in an amount of about 5 mg;

mannitol in an amount of about 52.3 mg;

sodium starch glycolate in an amount of about 2 mg; and

sodium stearyl fumarate in an amount of about 1.4 mg.

14 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 containing melatonin in a solid dosage form for buccal or sublingual delivery comprising:

melatonin in an amount to provide about 0.1 mg of melatonin;

PEG 400 in an amount of about 0.9 mg;

spray dried mannitol in an amount of about 150.4 mg;

sodium starch glycolate in an amount of about 3 mg; and

sodium stearyl fumarate in an amount of about 1.6 mg.

15 . A method for increasing oral absorption and bioavailability while shortening onset of melatonin action in an oral solid dosage form comprising:

providing melatonin in an amount of about 0.05 mg to about 5 mg;

providing a liquid PEG in an amount of about 1 mg of to about 50 mg;

providing a solid adsorbent in an amount up to about 50 mg;

providing a co-solvent in an amount up to about 25 mg;

providing a solid water-soluble excipient in an amount of about 25 mg to about 500 mg;

providing a disintegrant in an amount of about 0.5 mg to about 50 mg;

providing a lubricant in an amount of about 0.1 mg to about 15 mg; and

forming a solid oral dosage for buccal or sublingual administration having increased oral absorption and bioavailability and shortened onset of action for melatonin.

16 . A method for treating low melatonin levels and other conditions and disease states for which melatonin is an effective therapeutic, in a patient in need thereof comprising:

placing a melatonin containing the pharmaceutical composition in accordance with claim 1 , under the tongue; and

leaving it undisturbed from about 5 to 15 minutes;

whereby a therapeutically effective amount of melatonin is administered by sublingual or buccal administration.

17 . A method for treating low melatonin levels and other conditions and disease states for which melatonin is an effective therapeutic, in a patient in need thereof comprising:

placing a melatonin containing the pharmaceutical composition in accordance with claim 2 , under the tongue; and

leaving it undisturbed from about 5 to 15 minutes;

whereby a therapeutically effective amount of melatonin is administered by sublingual or buccal administration.