Abstract: A prolonged-release unit dosage formulation or pharmaceutical composition, preferably in tablet form, is described. The composition consists essentially of a gel-forming dietary fiber, a biologically-absorbable drug or other active therapeutic agent, and a disintegrant, namely, a mineral salt which releases a physiologically-acceptable gas upon ingestion, preferably carbon dioxide, e g., a mineral carbonate or bicarbonate, and advantageously dextrose or like soluble sugar. A physiologically-acceptable acid may optionally be included in the composition to further facilitate disintegration. The dietary fiber-containing composition, when compressed into a tablet together with the drug and the specific disintegrants, provides a unique and efficient prolonged-action drug-delivery system.