Pharmaceutical compositions with constant erosion volume for zero order

Abstract

An erodible pharmaceutical composition providing a unique zero order controlled release profile is herein described. The erodible composition contains a therapeutically active substance having a solubility not greater than 80 mg/mL, a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose derivative and erosion modifiers depending on drug solubility and drug loading, such as lactose and polyoxyalkylene derivatives of propylene glycol, as well as other inert materials such as binders and lubricants. The hydroxypropyl methylcellulose derivative is most preferably a hydroxy-propylmethyl having a methoxy content of about 19-30% and hydroxypropyl content of 7-12%, a methoxy degree of substitution from 1.1 to 2.0, a molecular weight of approximately 20,000 to 26,000 daltons and a viscosity of a 2% w/w polymer solution at 25.degree. C. ranging from 50 to 100 cps. The composition erodes with a constant erosion volume for a desired time period. When ingested, the matrix forms two layers, an outer layer of hydrated matrix which is eroding and an inner core of unchanged matrix. The composition provides a zero order release profile in part because the diffusion rate of the drug from the matrix is either negligible or is comparable to the erosion rate of the matrix and the drug concentration in the hydrated layer remains constant.