Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of regulated release solid pharmaceutical compositions comprising 4-(2'-nitro-phenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-pyridin e (referred to further on as "nifedipine") as active ingredient which comprises admixing a solution or solutions of 1 part by weight of nifedipine, 0.1-1.5 parts by weight of one or more hydrophilizing agent(s) and 0.05-1.5 parts by weight of one or more retarding agent(s) formed with one or more identical or different solvent(s) completely or partly and applying the solution(s) thus obtained simultaneously or in succession onto an inert carrier, drying and sieving the product thus obtained and subsequently admixing the same with suitable conventional auxiliary agents and compressing the mixture thus obtained to tablets in a known manner and coating the tablets or filling the mixture into capsules.