Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition of a practically insoluble drug, wherein the composition may be administered with food or without food. The composition may be in the form of a solid dispersion of the practically insoluble drug and a polymer having acidic functional groups, and the composition may in vitro form a suspension.

Abstract: A modified release preparation having one or more coated core elements, each core element including an active ingredient and having a modified release coating, wherein a stabilising coat is provided between each core element and its modified release coating so that, upon in vitro dissolution testing, the amount of active ingredient released at any time on a post-storage dissolution profile is within 40 percentage points of the amount of active ingredient released at any time on a pre-storage dissolution profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition of a practically insoluble drug, wherein the composition may be administered with food or without food. The composition may be in the form of a solid dispersion of the practically insoluble drug and a polymer having acidic functional groups, and the composition may in vitro form a suspension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a taste-masked pharmaceutical composition. In particular the invention relates to suspensions of microcapsules taste-masked as a function of a polymer coating and the pH of a suspending medium. Surprisingly, a polymer considered permeable maintains taste masking in this media whereas a polymer considered impervious by the industry does not. There is provided a taste masked oral pharmaceutical composition including: a pharmaceutically active ingredient having a pH-dependent solubility; a polymer encapsulating said pharmaceutically active ingredient, said polymer having a quaternary ammonium functionality; a suspending medium for suspending the encapsulated pharmaceutically active ingredient, said medium adjusted to a predetermined pH at which the pharmaceutically active ingredient remains substantially insoluble; and wherein the pharmaceutically active ingredient is taste masked by the combination of the polymer and suspending medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the therapeutic treatment of pain related to wind up in a human or animal. The method of the invention is practiced by administering to the subject an effective amount of an analgesic pharmaceutical composition which includes a NMDA receptor antagonist in an immediate release form combined with an NMDA receptor antagonist in a sustained release form. The immediate release form and sustained release forn are present in sufficient amounts to diminsh or abolish wind up.

Abstract: A controlled absorption diltiazem pellet formulation for oral administration comprises a core having diltiazem or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as the active ingredient. The core is surrounded by a coating which has only a single layer which is comprised of a relatively major proportion of talc and relatively minor proportion of sodium lauryl sulfate admixed with a minor proportion of a pharmaceutically acceptable film-forming, first polymer permeable to water and diltiazem, and a major proportion of a pharmaceutically acceptable film-forming, second polymer that is less permeable to water and diltiazem than the first polymer. The core and the coating layer both exclude organic acids. The composition of the coating layer as well as the proportion of core to coating layer are effective to permit release of the diltiazem allowing controlled absorption following oral administration.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical tablet composition for oral administration containing pseudoephedrine pellets admixed with a tablet mixture containing a second active drug substance, either alone or in combination with pseudoephedrine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is disclosed. The pellets provide an extended release of pseudoephedrine, whereas the tablet mixture provides an immediate release of the second active drug and any pseudoephedrine.

Abstract: A pelletized sustained release pharmaceutical composition including a core element including approximately 0.1 to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the core element, of an active ingredient of low aqueous solubility; approximately 0.1 to 55% by weight of a core seed; and a core coating for the core element, including approximately 30 to 97% by weight, based on the total weight of the core coating, excluding filler, of an enteric polymer; approximately 3 to 50% by weight of an insoluble polymer; and 0 to approximately 50% by weight of plasticizer, the enteric polymer comprising at least approximately 70% by weight of the total weight of the enteric polymer and insoluble polymer; the core coating being such that the active ingredient is released in a controlled fashion over an extended period in the intestine but substantially no release occurs in the acid environment of the stomach and blood levels of active ingredient are maintained within the therapeutic range over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A package is disclosed that enables packaging of associated items in a single pack. Typical of the items to be packaged are pharmaceutical drugs and associated drug delivery apparatus. The package (1) includes a main container or first compartment (10) adapted to contain a first one of the items e.g. drug delivery apparatus and a support or second compartment (11) adapted to releasably hold a subsidiary container to contain the second of the items e.g. vial or similar container. The subsidiary container may take the form of a sleeve or box retained with the second compartment.

Abstract: Intravenous catheter apparatus includes a housing surrounding a carrier movable from a first to a second position. An elongated needle, secured at one end to the carrier, extends from the carrier through an opening in the housing so the other end of the needle with a sharp point extends away from the housing when the carrier is in the first position. Means are provided for moving with one hand the carrier from the first to the second position to retract the needle into the housing until the sharp end of the needle clears the opening and moves into the housing. Means deflect the needle laterally when the needle clears the opening so the needle moves out of alignment with the opening to prevent the needle from being moved back into the opening. Preferably, the housing is formed of two elongated, substantially symmetrical halves secured together at one end by a living hinge for ease of manufacture and assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical pellet composition having a core element including at least one highly soluble active ingredient and a core coating which is partially soluble at a highly acidic pH. The pharmaceutical composition provides a slow release of active ingredient at a highly acidic pH and provides a constant, relatively faster rate of release at a more alkaline pH such as that of the intestine. Oral administration of the pharmaceutical pellet composition of the present invention to a patient is effective to deliver to the blood levels of active ingredient within the therapeutic range and to maintain such levels over an extended period of time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical pellet composition having a core element including at least one highly soluble active ingredient and a core coating which is partially soluble at a highly acidic pH. The pharmaceutical composition provides a slow release of active ingredient at a highly acidic pH and provides a constant, relatively faster rate of release at a more alkaline pH such as that of the intestine. Oral administration of the pharmaceutical pellet composition of the present invention to a patient is effective to deliver to the blood levels of active ingredient within the therapeutic range and to maintain such levels over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A medicament reservoir module for attachment to a pumping and control module includes a conventional medicament vial closed at one end by a penetrable stopper, which is inserted to operate as a piston in the vial. A hollow needle, attached to an adaptor that releasibly connects to the stopper, pierces the stopper and provides a medicament flow path via a slack length of flexible tubing from the vial to a peristaltic pump in the pumping and control module. A housing supports the vial, encloses the adaptor, hollow needle, and slack tubing, and releasibly connects to the pumping and control module. Thereby, a detachable reservoir module is provided, permitting quick and reliable resupply of medicament directly from filled standard vials.

Abstract: A tetracycline pharmaceutical composition having a core element containing a tetracycline antibiotic and a core coating which dissolves more slowly in the stomach than in the intestine. Administration of the composition to a human results in drug concentrations in the blood which are bioequivalent to those achieved with immediate release formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical pellet composition having a core element including at least one highly soluble active ingredient and a core coating which is partially soluble at a highly acidic pH. The pharmaceutical composition provides a slow release of active ingredient at a highly acidic pH and provides a constant, relatively faster rate of release at a more alkaline pH such as that of the intestine. Oral administration of the pharmaceutical pellet composition of the present invention to a patient is effective to deliver to the blood levels of active ingredient within the therapeutic range and to maintain such levels over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A pH-dependent sustained release pharmaceutical pellet composition and a method of administering the same to a patient at a predetermined dosage and interval, said pellet composition comprising: a core element containing a therapeutically effective amount of theophylline, xanthine or a derivative thereof as the active ingredient and a coating on said core element which comprises the following components:(a) at least 40% of a matrix polymer which is insoluble at a pH of from 1 to 7.5 and contributes to the control of the rate of release of the active ingredient in the stomach and intestines;(b) from 1 to 30% of an enteric polymer which is substantially insoluble at a pH of from 1 to 4, sufficient to delay the release of the active ingredient in the stomach, but which is soluble at a pH of from 6 to 7.