In certain embodiments, the present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical formulation for topical administration on a mammal, comprising a unit dose of a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium therefor, said formulation being solid at ambient temperature and having a softening point of not higher than 35° C., such that when the formulation is placed in continuous contact with the skin of a mammalian patient, it is softened to a consistency to effect substantial application of the unit dose of said therapeutic agent onto a desired skin area of the mammalian patient within a time period of less than 10 minutes.