Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a continuous method for the production of retarded pharmaceutical compositions by an extrusion process. A mixture of an active material, a low and high melting lipid or lipoid components is introduced by means of an extruder screw conveyor into a preheated extruder and brought to a temperature which is at most about 4.degree. C. above the melting temperature of the low melting component at a pressure of about 200 to about 600 kPa(N/m.sup.2). The mass is extruded through a nozzle plate with a nozzle diameter of about 1.2 to about 4 mm and subsequently cooled, and if desired, granulated.