Provided is a buccal spray composition suitable for transmucosal administration of a sedative. The composition comprises a sedative in an amount of between 0.1 and 25 percent by weight of the total composition and a polar solvent in an amount between 10 and 97 percent by weight of the total composition. The composition also comprises a propellant in an amount between 2 and 10 percent by weight of the total composition, wherein said propellant is a C3 to C8 hydrocarbon of linear or branched configuration.