Felodipine ER tablets

Extensions of BCS beyond the oral IR area has also been suggested, for example to apply BCS in the extended-release area. However, this will provide a major challenge since the release from different formulations will interact in different ways with in vitro test conditions and the physiological milieu in the gastrointestinal tract. For example, the plasma concentration-time profile differed for two felodipine ER tablets for which very similar in vitro profiles had been obtained, despite the fact that both tablets were of the hydrophilic matrix type based on cellulose derivates [70], This misleading result in vitro was due to interactions between the gel strength of the matrix and components in the dissolution test medium of no in vivo relevance. The situation for ER formulations would be further complicated by the need to predict potential food effects on the drug release in vivo. 

Tolli, J., Absorption, gastrointestinal transit, and tablet erosion of felodipine extended release (ER) tablets, Pharm. Res. 1993, 10, 709-714. 

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