An adhesive patch is provided that allows the user to apply it in a safe and hygienic manner without touching the drug-containing matrix during the sequence of actions from the removal of the liner to the application of the patch. Specifically, the adhesive patch has a multilayer structure that includes a backing, an adhesive drug-containing matrix that is spread substantially entirely over one surface of the backing, and a liner that adheres to the drug-containing matrix surface. The adhesive patches have the following features:(a) the liner adhering to the drug-containing matrix surface includes first and second liners(b) the first liner is folded at the middle thereof so that it is divided by the fold into first and second sections that together form a V-shaped liner, the first section adhering to the drug-containing matrix surface from one end of the matrix with the fold arranged closer to the middle of the drug-containing matrix, the second section serving as a tab and(c) the second liner adheres to the remaining part of the drug-containing matrix surface with one end of the second liner covering the fold of the V-shaped first liner to form a laminated part that serves as a tab.
