Drug products consist of various pharmacokinetics characteristics and dosage forms .

Modified
release drug products and immediate release drug products is the main focus of this essay.
Conventional order drug products or immediate release drug products formulated to release the
active ingredient rapidly and be absorbed rapidly without much delay where as modify release drug
products is formulated to release the active ingredient in a regulated manner at a predetermined
rate in order to meet the therapeutic level within the safety range. Modified release oral drug
products exists in several forms such as extended – release drug products, delayed release drug
products, targeted release drug products, orally disintegrating tablets. This essay aims to revu
modified release drug products by comparing modify release drug product against immediate
release drug products, specifically the extended release drug product, metformin ER used to control
diabetes mellitus, outline the advantages and the disadvantages associated with metformin ER and
its visibility in the Fiji community.

Moreover, metformin (metformin hydrochloride) exists as metformin(conventional tablet /

immediate release tablet ) and metformin extended release(ER), which is a modified release
product. Metformin IR( immediate release) drug product and metformin ER both contain the same
active ingredient and belong to drug class biguanide. Similarities involve both existing as oral tablets
and have branded products available. Glucophage is one of the brand for metformin while
glucophage ER , Fortamet, glumetza are the brands available existing as metformin ER. Both are used
to manage type 2 diabetes melitus however metformin ER can only be taken by adults while
metformin can be taken both by adults and children more than 10 years. The difference also exists
the dosing frequency. metformin ER which is a controlled release tablet, it is less frequently taken
when compared to metformin IR. metformin ER is initially taken as 500mg once daily; may be
increased up to two grams once daily where as for conventional tablet, 500mg is taken 1-3 times
daily. Maybe increased upto 850mg 2 or 3 times daily according to response . Maximum daily dose is
3g for conventional tablets . Both are taken with food in order to reduce GI related adverse effects
such as nausea , vomiting, diarrhoea , lactic acidosis. However, metformin ER is better tolerated by
patients than metformin IR because metformin ER has less adverse drug reactions associated upon
comparison with metformin. Therefore, metformin ER has better patient ccompliance when
compared to metformin ER. Plasma maximum level is reached slowly buy metformin ER compared to
conventional immediate release metformin however both provide similar effectiveness and safety.

Furthermore there are various advantages and disadvantages of modified release drug products
compared to immediate release drug products. the advantages include