What method is used to address the systemic delivery of medication through an adhesive patch?

The method used to address the systemic delivery of medication through an adhesive patch is transdermal. This delivery system allows medications to be absorbed directly through the skin and into the bloodstream, achieving systemic effects.

Transdermal patches are specifically designed to release medication at a controlled rate, providing a steady level of the drug in circulation over an extended period. This route is particularly advantageous for patients who may have difficulty swallowing pills or require continuous medication over a prolonged duration.

Other methods listed are specific routes of administration with different mechanisms: intravenous involves delivering medication directly into the bloodstream using a vein, topical refers to localized treatment applied to a specific area of the skin without systematic absorption, and subcutaneous relates to injections made in the fatty tissue just beneath the skin, which can provide systemic effects but are not through a patch system. Each of these has its unique applications and is not designed for the sustained, controlled release of medications like transdermal patches are.