What Does Extended Release Mean in Medications?

Over-the-counter pills come in many formulas, such as time release, controlled release, extended release, delayed release or sustained release. How does time release work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages to it? What should you know before choosing a standard or time release formula? If it is a prescription medication, why did the doctor choose this formula?

Different Terminology, Same Process

• Time release technology has a number of aliases that refer to the same process: sustained release, controlled release, extended release, timed release, time release or continuous release. These terms can all be used interchangeably and are often signified on packaging with just the first two letters following the medication name, such as Mucinex ER. The aforementioned terms are interchangeable, but watch for similar ones: delayed release is not the same as extended release, for instance.

What They Accomplish

• Time release formulas are specially designed versions of the drug that delay the release of the active ingredient in the drug, such that it is absorbed by the body over a period of time. A drug of this formula may have effects that last until the next dosage is taken. This can be important in situations in which the medication is designed to prevent problems, such as pain killers, sleep inducers or medications that halt unpleasant side effects of diseases or disorders. Often the medications sustain desired levels in the bloodstream rather than administering an initial "jolt", then decreasing in intensity.

Delayed Release Formula

• Delayed release formulas are not the same as any of the above-mentioned terms and do not make claim as to equal absorption over a time period. Delayed release tablets are enteric coated; this passes the drug safely through the stomach, where gastric juices might ordinarily destroy its coating, where release of the drug can cause serious damage. Though packaging may look the same and names may be very similar, pay close attention to what you're buying.

How it Works

• There are a variety of ways to deliver active ingredients in time released doses. One is to embed it in a web of substance that the body is slow to dissolve, such that the active ingredient slowly and regularly leeches from the coating. Another is for the drug to swell up to form a gel with a nearly impenetrable surface, wherein the drug slowly exits the semipermeable layer. The medication may have a coating over the active ingredient, or may contain tiny time release beads, individually coated. Some compounds require no special delivery to have time release properties, as the active ingredient is slowly absorbed by the bloodstream due to its own properties.

Cracking the Packaging Codes

• Here is a key for the two-letter abbreviations found on many medication packages. If it does not have these letters or the full term on the package, it is a traditional or "instant release" medication. Most of these terms have relevance to how your body deals with the drug, so utmost attention should be paid to terminology when selecting a drug. If you don't know what a term means, ask a pharmacist.

  DA: delayed absorption
  DR: delayed release
  EC: enteric coated
  ER: enteric release
  GC: granules within capsules
  SR: slow release
  SSR: sustained release

Damaging Pill Properties

• As some time release pills rely on micropellets (tiny coated beads) to deliver their time release properties, it is very important that these pills not be crushed or even split as it will affect their immediate potency. Delayed release pills also should not be damaged or their enteric coating will be interrupted, which could cause serious damage to the stomach. Before splitting any pills, contact your doctor.