Q: Why aren’t antihypertensive medications in time-release form, so they have the potential to provide benefits longer in a day?
A: Many factors have to be considered in making medication. (See How Medicines Work fact sheet) Some drugs are not suitable for time release. In others, time release is not needed because it takes your body so long to process the drug. A steady amount of the drug can be maintained in the blood stream by taking the drug at the same time of day every day. Most blood pressure medicines are in this category.
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I’m reluctant to believe the answer to the time release question. My BP Medication certainly doesn’t maintain my BP at any stable rate. More to the point is that the change would not be profitable for the pharmaceutical companies. In today’s world profit is King!
The questioner has a great idea, and the “doctor”, another bad answer.
I don’t know why D Carstia thought the dr gave a bad answer. Certainly the drug companies would have come up with time realeased if it is beneficial. Especially if it makes them money!!
Hasn’t this DR. heard of ToprolXL. It is in a time release form…..
She said “Some medications are not suitable in a time release form” NEVER did she say ALL medications. Toprol XL and some others are available in sustained release. If you take your medication at the same time EVERY day a steady amount of the drug is in the blood stream daily.
By what authority and or training do you have to support your criticism of this answer?
Some drugs do have a longer half life than others. That is the reason some drugs must not be discontinued abruptly because they do not stay in your system long enough. That may also be the reason why some drugs may take a while before BP ‘control’ is achieved.
The generics for Lisinopril (at 40 mg.) seem to vary a lot between manufacturers, some seem completely ineffective on a 30 day supply, while others work almost as well as the original maker’s version. Timed release not an issue when the generic used works poorly/no difference from skipping the med.
In response to an email received regarding the availability of Metoprolol Succinate Extended Release tablets (called Embeta-XR-25) made by Intas Pharmaceuticals India:
Please note that according to Gold Standard 2010 (a drug info database) “Although Dutoprol™ tablets (extended-release metoprolol and immediate-release hydrochlorothiazide) were approved by the FDA in August 2006, there are no plans by the manufacturer to launch this new formulation.” I beleive this is probably similar to the drug that was attained in India. Embeta is not listed by Gold Standard so I don’t believe it is available in the US.