Abstract: The present invention provides for stabilization of misoprostol in solid dispersions using amorphous excipients or excipients which have been converted to an amorphous state such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate butyrate, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, starch, polypropylene, dextrans, dextrins, hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin chitosan, co-(lactic/glycolic)copolymers, poly(orthoester), polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, lectins, carbopols, silicon elastomers, cyclodextrins, polyacrylic polymers, maltodextrins, lactose, fructose, inositol, trehalose, maltose, and raffinose, (and other mono-, di- and tri- saccharides) and .alpha.-, .beta.- and .gamma.-cyclodextrins, and more preferably the excipients which are used are dextran, maltodextrin, hydroxypropyl .beta.-cyclodextrin and maltose.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and transdermal patches comprised of pentamidine and a penetration enhancing amount of a terpene selected from the group consisting of menthol, carvone, carveol, dihydrocarveol, dihydrocarvone, neomenthol, isopulegol, terpene-4-ol, menthone, pulegol, camphor, geraniol, .alpha.-terpineol, citral, linalol, carvacrol, thymol and anethole are disclosed for delivery of a therapeutically effective amount of pentamidine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts.