Abstract: A controlled-release, non-sedating antihistamine and decongestant composition which provides a 24-hour decongestant dissolution profile using standard ungranulated xanthan gum as the sole controlled-release agent and a process for preparing the same is provided. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention typically includes: a compressed extended-release core comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of decongestant, ungranulated xanthan gum, one or more binders, a flow agent, and a lubricant. An immediate-release coating composition is disposed on the core that typically includes a non-sedating antihistamine and at least one coating agent.

Abstract: A compressible extended release tablet or tablet layer having a drug release profile that is not strongly dependent on tablet hardness may be prepared by dry blending a pharmaceutically active ingredient with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose has a bimodal or multimodal number average molecular weight distribution that includes at least one mode over 20,000 Daltons and at least one mode under 10,000 Daltons. An additional advantage of the invention is that the tablet formulations may be prepared without resort to wet granulation.

Abstract: A keyboard interface controller in the nature of a state machine is placed in a stop mode or an idle mode after initialization. In stop or idle mode, all the keyboard conductors associated with the X-axis are activated, while all keyboard conductors associated with the Y-axis are sensed. Upon being awakened by an interrupt upon key closure from which the Y-axis location of the closed key is determined, the controller sequences through the steps of (a) determining the X-axis of the keyboard by activating the determined Y-axis conductor and sensing the X-axis conductors; (b) converting the crosspoint to a unique code; (c) transmitting the crosspoint code to the host; and (d) checking for either another closure or the release of the closure detected. When all keys are released, the controller returns to stop or idle mode.