A PERORAL PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE OF A DRUG

摘要

A peroral pharmaceutical formulation for controlled release of a drug contains a mixture of the drug and a polymer for controlling its release. The polymer is chitosan, particularly microcrystalline chitosan with a high crystallinity degree, and the mixture of the chitosan and the drug is in the form of granules or pellets. The preparation can be a dosage bag, a gelatine capsule or a compressed tablet containing the granules or pellets. The preparation can be best utilized in the administration of drugs which are only absorbed at the initial end of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. furosemide) or which form undesirable metabolites when passed to the terminal end of the gastrointestinal tract, or which are susceptible of irritating the mucous membrane of the stomach (e.g. anti-inflammatory analgesics and corticoids).