Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration used for the treatment and prevention of hyperlipemia, obesity and obesity-related diseases contain phytic acid or its salt as a pharmaceutically effective component.

Abstract: A multi-purpose pharmaceutical tablet which can either be readily swallowed or dissolved in water to give a dispersion, comprising a tetracycline, microcrystalline cellulose or microfine cellulose, low substituted hydroxypropylcellulose and a thickening agent, preferably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and optionally other conventional adjuvants. The tablet may be easily swallowed as such, and when immersed in water, it affords a very fine dispersion within 30-60 seconds. The tablet may be prepared by direct compression, or by a wet granulation process in which a granulate is used which contains tetracycline and any substantial amount of a wet binding substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solid, rapidly disintegrating dosage form in the form of effervescent tablets for producing an aqueous suspension of diclofenac for peroral administration. The dosage form contains diclofenac in micronised form provided with a permeable, swellable coating, together with pharmaceutical excipients.

Abstract: Skin permeation enhancer compositions are provided which increase the permeability of skin to transdermally administered pharmacologically active agents. The compositions contain a sorbitan ester in addition to the selected pharmacologically active agent, and may also contain a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 aliphatic alcohol. Methods and transdermal drug delivery systems for using the compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising a wall surrounding a compartment, which comprises a first composition comprising a carboxymethylcellulose and a second composition comprising a higher molecular weigh carboxymethylcellulose. The first composition comprises a dosage amount of drug that delivers from the dosage form at a controlled rate over time.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising a first layer and a second layer. The first layer provides immediate therapy and comprises a drug stereoisomer and the second layer provides prolonged therapy and comprises a drug racemate.

Abstract: Transdermal delivery systems for delivery of nitroglycerin are disclosed which deliver the drug at enhanced transdermal fluxes. The systems include, in addition to nitroglycerin, a permeation enhancer which is either a sorbitan ester, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.22 aliphatic alcohol, or a mixture thereof. Methods for administering nitroglycerin using such permeation enhancers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns an instant oral-release capsule containing an aqueous or aqueous alcoholic solution of nifedipine, containing a polyalkylene glycol and a polyoxyethylene ester component, the amount of the ester component in the solution being sufficient to prevent precipitation of nifedipine in the mouth of a patient after release of the solution from the capsule. Preferably, the ester component is an ethoxylated hydrogenated castor oil Cremophor RH40. The solution may further contain a second glycol component, especially glycerol.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical sustained release homogeneous tablet or homogeneous tablet layer is formed by making a wet granulation using povidone (PVP) in alcohol as the granulating fluid which is mixed with a pharmaceutical active, ethylcellulose, a wicking agent, e.g. microcrystalline cellulose, an erosion promoter, e.g. pregelatinized starch, then drying and milling the granulation and blending with a dry powdered erosion promotor, wicking agent, lubricant, e.g. magnesium stearate and glidant, e.g. silicon dioxide, and compressing the resultant granulation, which upon administration results in a long-lasting slow and relatively regular incremental release of the pharmaceutical active, and multi-layered pharmaceutical active tablets comprising immediate release and/or sustained release layers.

Abstract: An osmotic device (10) for delivering a beneficial drug, such as an anti-microbial drug, into the mouth of a human patient is disclosed. The device (10) has a size and shape adapting it to be comfortably retained in the mouth for extended periods of time. The device comprises a thin semipermeable membrane wall (12) surrounding a compartment (13) housing a beneficial agent (14) that has at least some degree of solubility in aqueous biological fluids, e.g., saliva, and a fibrous support material (15) composed of hydrophilic water-insoluble fibers. A passageway (17) in the wall (12) connects the agent 14) with the exterior of the device (10). The wall (12) is permeable to the passage of aqueous biological fluid but substantially impermeable to the passage of the fibrous support material (15).

Abstract: A dosage form comprising (1) an immediately available dose of a beneficial drug followed by a timed delayed dose of drug, or (2) a timed delayed dose of drug.

Abstract: A percutaneous pharmaceutical preparation in tape form is provided. The preparation comprises a flexible backing, which is not permeable to an active ingredient, and an adhesive layer formed on the flexible backing, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive base material and an active ingredient compatible with the adhesive base material, wherein the adhesive base material consists essentially of a copolymer containing 2-ethylhexyl acrylate in a concentration of 45 to 80 mol % and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone in a concentration of 20 to 55 mol %, and the active ingredient is estradiol and/or the esters thereof which are contained in a concentration of 6 to 25% by weight of the total amount of the adhesive base material and the active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for the transdermal administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a synthetic 19-nor-progesterone (ST-1435) and an estrogen, in combination, together with, optionally, a suitable permeation enhancer.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising an anti-Parkinson's disease drug for administering to a patient in need of anti-Parkinson's disease therapy.

Abstract: A sheet material comprising discrete depressions which are at least partially filled with micronized medicament and which are useful as or in a drug delivery device. This sheet material is useful in devices which provide for aerosolization of the medicament, for delivery to a patient by inhalation.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising an anti-Parkinson's disease drug for administering to a patient in need of anti-Parkinson's disease therapy.

Abstract: A laminated composite for administering fentanyl transdermally that consists of a fentanyl-impermeable occlusive backing layer and an adhesive fentanyl reservoir layer comprising fentanyl dissolved in an amine-resistant polydimethylsiloxane that has a high diffusivity and poor solubility for fentanyl which enables the fentanyl to be released rapidly from the composite over a one day period with little residual fentanyl left in the reservoir thereafter.

Abstract: A dosage form is disclosed comprising a member selected from the group consisting of nicardipine and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts for administering to a patient in need of cardio-vascular therapy.

Abstract: An adhesive bilayer transdermal dosage system capable of sustained release of a pharmaceutically active drug to the skin of a human patient having a first component layer which is a pharmaceutically active drug-containing essentially planar sheet of an at least partially cross-linked acrylic adhesive. The planar sheet is formed of a flexible self-supporting cross-linked acrylate of sufficient adhesivity, durability and strength whereby intimate diffusional contact with the skin of the patient is maintained for a period of at least about 24 hours without destruction of the physical integrity of the sheet. The sheet is capable of retaining, dispersed therein, sufficient pharmaceutically active drug to deliver to the skin a pharmaceutically effective amount of the drug over a 24-hour period without dissolution of the at least partially crosss-linked acrylic adhesive. The system also contains a second component layer intimately adhered to one side of the first component layer.

Abstract: Thin film adhesive dressings comprise a support layer having a continuous coating on one side thereof of a gel adhesive. The adhesive is non self-adherent and preferably comprises a hydrophilic gel containing polyurethane residues. The dressings may be highly water absorbent and are moisture vapor permeable, having a moisture vapor transmission rate of not less than 300 gm m.sup.2 hr.sup.-1 at a relative humidity difference of 10 to 100% when in contact with moisture vapor.