While the active ingredients of a drug are important, many people do not realize that the preparation process plays an equally pivotal role in drug usage. Many people have come across oral medications that sometimes need to be broken open, ground up, or taken with only the powder in the capsule due to dosage restrictions. So is this really possible? The preparation principle of slow and controlled release Whether a tablet can be broken open or ground up depends on the preparation process of the drug, while whether it needs to be dispersed depends on the clinical drug dosage. At present, the clinically important classification of oral drugs are slow-release preparations and controlled-release preparations. 1, controlled-release tablets Controlled-release tablets are preparations with relatively high requirements for drug release, mostly seen in cardiovascular preparations. In the unit of time has a relatively constant release dose, in order to maintain a constant blood drug concentration, the effectiveness of more durable. 2, extended-release tablets The extended-release tablets are released in a longer time than ordinary tablets, and will not be completely released as soon as they arrive in the body as ordinary tablets. So the release rate of extended-release formulations can actually be constant, or non-constant Some extended-release tablets are designed to avoid greater stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract, mainly to play a protective role, so they are mostly used in the local stimulation of drugs. 3, preparation process The principles of slow release and controlled release are dissolution, diffusion, solubilization, osmotic difference, ion exchange, etc. The use of dissolution diffusion and other principles need to envelope and add porogenic agent, this type of drugs can not be broken open to use. The ion exchange type only needs to be combined with ions, and the drug will be replaced by ion exchange at a certain PH in the body, so this type of drug can be broken open for use. At present, the preparation process of domestic slow and controlled release formulations include skeleton type, coating type, osmotic pump type, etc. After these types of drugs enter the body, they are slowly released from the skeleton and chips through the action of gastric juice to exert the drug effect, and the drugs prepared by using this type of technology cannot be broken open or ground up for use, as it will destroy the overall effect. In contrast, drugs prepared by multi-unit microcapsule system, inert material as matrix, etc., are released independently and at a constant rate, and can be broken open or ground up. So for some drugs with special preparation process, breaking open and taking only half a tablet will destroy the slow and controlled release structure of the tablet or capsule. The rapid release of the drug and the sudden increase in blood concentration may affect the pharmacokinetic properties and cause adverse reactions. The following author will specifically introduce the preparation process of some common drugs. Common drug analysis 1, metoprolol extended-release tablets (Betaloc) Metoprolol extended-release tablets use a multi-unit microcapsule system, consisting of hundreds to thousands of spherical microcapsules with a diameter of about 0.5 nm or smaller, each microcapsule has an independent constant-rate release unit, breaking open to take will not affect the release of drugs. Dosage: For stable heart failure in Class II, the initial dosage is 23.75 mg (half of a 45 mg tablet), PO qd, which may be increased after two weeks. The initial dosage of 11.875 mg (1/4 tablet of 45 mg tablet) can be increased after 1-2 weeks in stable heart failure of cardiac function class III-IV. 2. Glipizide Controlled Release Tablets Glipizide Controlled Release Tablets use a two-layer osmotic pump technology with a semi-permeable membrane containing glipizide and water-absorbing ingredients. The semi-permeable membrane has a number of small holes for drug release, and the tablet expands after absorbing water, forming a high osmotic pressure on both sides of its semi-permeable membrane, promoting the continuous and constant release of the drug. Breaking it open will destroy the double-layer osmotic pump structure and cause rapid release of the drug, resulting in an instantaneous increase in blood concentration and inducing serious adverse reactions. Therefore, it should be swallowed whole, not broken, crushed or chewed. Otherwise, hypoglycemia, coma, convulsions, nausea, insomnia, tachycardia and other dangers may occur. Dosage: Specification 5 mg, initial dose 5 mg (1 tablet) po qd, gradually adjusted to the optimal dose, the maximum dose does not exceed 20 mg/day. Take with breakfast at the same time, do not break. 3. Cefaclor extended-release tablets Dosage: 0.375 g, recommended dose of 375 mg (1 tablet) po bid for pharyngitis, tonsillitis and skin soft tissue infections, lower urinary tract infections, bronchitis. 750 mg (2 tablets) po bid for pneumonia and sinusitis. Can be taken with food to increase absorption. However, it should not be broken, crushed or chewed when taking. 4, nifedipine extended-release tablets, controlled-release tablets Nifedipine has short-acting and long-acting, long-acting nifedipine, including extended-release and controlled-release 2 kinds of dosage forms. At present, most of the long-acting nifedipine produced by domestic pharmaceutical companies belong to extended-release tablets. The action is characterized by the slow release of the drug in the body, the release rate is faster at the beginning, and the antihypertensive effect is better; over time, the release rate gradually slows down, and the antihypertensive effect is gradually weakened. Nifedipine controlled-release tablets are different in that their action is characterized by the release of the drug at a constant rate within 24 hours, which maintains a more stable blood pressure control. Extended-release tablets: If a reduced dose is needed, half a tablet may be taken intact and separated along the center line. Controlled-release tablets: swallow the whole tablet and do not break it. If you break the nifedipine extended-release tablets, it is very easy to cause sudden drop of blood pressure and tachycardia. 5.Isosorbide mononitrate extended-release tablets Slow-release tablets: skeleton tablets, drug and skeleton material are completely and evenly dispersed, can be broken into half tablets along the center line and swallowed, not chewed. Inert material is used as the matrix, and the drug is evenly distributed in the matrix and released continuously and slowly from the matrix. Half tablets can be broken and taken along the engraved groove, but cannot be ground and chewed. Film-coated tablets: the tablets should be swallowed whole and should not be broken open or chewed. If broken open, it will cause sudden release of the drug, a drop in blood pressure and other adverse drug reactions, and in serious cases, life-threatening.