extended-release

Slow medication delivery

Extended-release describes medications designed to dissolve slowly and release their active ingredients gradually over time, rather than all at once.

This allows for less frequent dosing—often once or twice daily instead of every few hours.

Pharmaceutical packaging abbreviates it variously: ER, XR, XL.

The doctor switched her to extended-release tablets so she wouldn't have to take pills every four hours.

pharmaceutical

tablet

Flat portable computing device

capsuleEnclosed dose container
formulationDevised mixture or expression
dosageMeasured medicine amount

medication · pill · prescription · once-daily · drug-delivery · oral · coating · matrix · dissolution · bioavailability

mechanism

gradual

Developing slowly over time

prolongedMade to last longer
continuousWithout pause or gap
steadyFixed, not fluctuating

sustained · diffusion · erosion · osmotic · membrane · polymer · coating · dissolve · absorption · bloodstream

therapeutic

opioid

Morphine-class analgesic

metforminBiguanide glucose-lowering drug
bupropionNDRI antidepressant medication
oxycodonePowerful prescription pain reliever

tramadol · diabetes · depression · ADHD · hypertension · chronic · compliance · adherence · convenience · overnight

Categories

pill typespill, aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, vitamin
drug delivery formscapsules, tablets, patches, pills, gel caps
Drug Traitsaddictive, potent, toxic, sedative, narcotic

Opposites

drug release timing

extended-releasequick-release

Instant detachment mechanism

short-acting · fast-acting · bolus · pulsatile

onset of action

extended-releasefast-acting

Producing rapid results

rapid-acting · sublingual · intravenous · injectable

Family

extended, release, extend, extends, extending, extension, extensions, extensive, extensively

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G