To counter these limitations and to improve patient compliance, drug companies
have introduced patches. Unlike oral medication, drug patches release the active compounds directly into the blood. By avoiding the gastrointestinal system, the drug is less likely to cause nausea and other side effects. The patch administers a constant level of the drug, avoiding the peaks and troughs in drug levels obtained from oral drugs. By wearing a patch, patients do not need to worry about forgetting, or waking up to take a pill.