Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To review the development of sustained-release medical material new formulations, application characteristics of sustained-release antihypertensive drugs in hypertension treatment, and to investigate ideal sustained-release antihypertensive drugs.
METHODS: By using “sustained-release materials, sustained-release agents, hypertension” as Chinese key words, a computer search was performed among articles published from January 1995 to October 2009. Articles related to the development of sustained-release medical materials, sustained-release formulations and sustained-release antihypertensive drug were included; the repeated study or Meta analysis articles were excluded. Eighteen studies focused mainly on the development of sustained-release medical materials, advantages of sustained-release dosage forms, the incidence of hypertension in China, and the necessity of sustained-release antihypertensive drugs.
RESULTS: The sustained-release drugs are advantageous to improve efficacy, and reduce side effects and enhance patient’s compliance. They not only fit for the urgent need for clinical pharmacy research, but also have great economic benefits in medical scientific research and pharmaceutical industries. Sustained-release formulations may provide appropriate blood concentration for human body within a predetermined period, and reducing the administration frequency can achieve a good therapeutic effect. With drug delivery systems and administrating locus in-depth, the preparation technology of sustained-release formulations as well as the development of new formulations all have better prospects. There are many materials for preparation of sustained-release formulations, 40 kinds of current sustained-release materials can be widely used for the production and for clinical treatment of many diseases, especially hypertension treatment, it not only reduces fluctuations in blood pressure, lower risk of major cardiovascular events and prevention of target organ damage, but also improves medication compliance.
CONCLUSION: Great progress has been made in sustained-release antihypertensive drugs. But drug carrier of some materials is not perfect and still needs to be modified, and sustained-release materials and preparation technology should be improved.