Chapter 13 Formulation Factors

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Sustained Release Dosage Forms

Another form of coating is enteric coated tablets which are coated with a material which will dissolve in the intestine but remain intact in the stomach. Polymeric acid compounds have been used for this purpose with some success. This topic and the area of sustained release products has been discussed in more detail in other courses.

Benefits

for short half-life drugs, sustained release can mean less frequent dosing and thus better compliance.
reduce variations in plasma/blood levels for more consistent result.

Problems

More complicated formulation, may produce more erratic results. A sustained release product may contain a larger dose, i.e. the dose for two or three (or more) 'normal' dosing intervals. A failure of the controlled release mechanism may result in release of a large potentially toxic dose.
more expensive technology

Types of products

erosion tablets
waxy matrix
- matrix erodes or drug leaches from matrix
coated pellets
- different pellets (colors) have different release properties
coated ion exchange
osmotic pump
- insoluble coat with small hole. Osmotic pressure pushes the drug out at a controlled rate.

Results - reduced side effects

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