Is Your Business Ready to Benefit from Delayed-Release Capsules?

There are many dosage forms for capsules in the market. Besides popular immediate release forms, modified release dosage forms are also common. They are designed to control the release of active ingredients in the body. Modified release capsules include delayed release, extended release, controlled release, etc. All of them are crucial for enhancing patient compliance and reducing dosing frequency. This post helps you understand the delayed release dosage form. So you can decide if it suits your pharma business or not.

What are Delayed Release Capsules?

Delayed release capsules are specifically designed to release their active ingredients at a later stage after ingestion. These capsules are coated with special materials that resist the acidic environment of the stomach. It allows the capsule to pass through to the small intestine where the drug is then released. This controlled timing helps ensure that the drug is delivered at the most effective point in the digestive tract. So it can be absorbed without being degraded by stomach acid.

In pharmaceuticals, delayed release capsules offer a more targeted approach to drug delivery. Take mesalamine for example. It is used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis. Mesalamine needs to reach the colon to be effective and reduce inflammation.

In addition, for some types of drugs, side effects may occur if they are released too early. For example, some medications can cause irritation to the stomach lining if released there. If taking delayed released forms, the issue can be prevented.

How Does Delay Released Capsules Work?

Delayed release capsules are designed to control the timing and location of the drug release within the digestive system. They always take effective as follows.

Protective Coating when Swallowing

The key to a delayed-release capsule is its special coating, often called an enteric coating. This coating prevents capsules from dissolving in the stomach. Common materials for enteric coating include CAP, HPMCP, and PVAP. The Eudragit series is also popular. It can be adjusted to dissolve at different pH levels. For example, Eudragit L dissolves at pH 6.0, and Eudragit S dissolves at pH 7.0. It allows precise control over where the drug is released.

When choosing coating materials for your medicine, consider where in the digestive tract the drug should be released. If the drug needs to be released in the upper small intestine, choose a material that dissolves at a lower pH like 5.0. For release in the colon, choose a material that dissolves at a higher pH 7.5.

Mechanical strength and durability are also important. The material must be strong enough to withstand the movement and stress in the stomach. Moreover, it should also dissolve quickly in the intestine. Another important factor is compatibility. The coating must not react with the drug or affect its stability.

Passage through the Stomach

When passing the stomach, the capsule keeps intact. Then it enters the small intestine. The environment in the small intestine is less acidic. The enteric coating is specifically designed to break down in this higher pH environment. 

Release of Active Ingredient

After the coating dissolves in the small intestine, the active ingredient inside the capsule becomes available. This controlled release allows the drug to reach the area where it can work best. Take Omeprazole for example. It is a common treatment for GERD and stomach ulcers, and it needs protection in a delayed-release capsule. Omeprazole is unstable in acidic environments, so delayed release prevents the drug from breaking down before it reaches the small intestine.

The delayed-release capsule also controls the timing and speed of the drug's release. This steady release extends the drug's effect and avoids sudden changes in blood drug levels. For long-term treatments that require stable drug levels, like GERD, this delayed-release mechanism is crucial.

Mechanisms of Drug Release

The drug release can be triggered by the pH of the environment, as seen with enteric coatings, or by enzymatic action. This means enzymes in specific parts of the digestive tract break down the coating. In some cases, time-controlled mechanisms are also used. The drug is released after a certain period, regardless of location, but these are typically classified as extended release rather than strictly delayed release. You can find their differences in the following text.

Selective Absorption

Delayed release capsules ensure that the active ingredient is absorbed in the area where it can be most effective. Or absorption into the bloodstream is more optimal. This reduces the risk of the drug being degraded or causing irritation before it reaches its intended site of action.

Two Differences between Delayed Release and Extended Release

Many people are confused about delayed and extended release capsules. They are actually not the same. Their main differences are as follows.

Different Release Mechanisms and Focus

Delayed-release capsules release their active ingredient at a specific time after ingestion, typically after passing through the stomach. The release is delayed until the capsule reaches a more suitable environment, like the small intestine. They ensure the drug is released at the most effective site within the digestive tract.

Extended-release capsules are formulated to release the drug slowly and steadily over an extended period. It typically takes over 12 to 24 hours. The release begins as soon as the capsule is ingested and continues gradually.

Therefore, by contrast, we can know that delayed release capsules focus on when the drug is released while the other concerns how long the drug is released.

Various Purposes

Delayed release mainly protects the drug from stomach acid and dissolves in the specific area like colon. It also prevents the drug from causing irritation to the stomach lining. Then the drug can be the most effective. Examples include some anti-inflammatory or enzyme replacement therapies.

For extended release formulations, they focus on maintaining consistent blood drug levels and reducing the frequency of dosing. It avoids peaks and troughs in drug concentration. Extended release medicine allows for once-daily or twice-daily administration rather than multiple doses throughout the day. This can improve patient compliance and ensure more consistent therapeutic effects. They are always applied to the treatment of chronic conditions like hypertension, depression, or diabetes.

The End

Delayed release capsules are increasingly popular now. If you want to invest in this sector, it is a must to know how they work. And you should ensure they suit your customers’ needs. If you also struggle to find a reliable capsule filling machine, contact iPharMachine. We provide a series of capsule fillers to meet your production needs.