Posted by xbunny on July 10, 2005, at 12:53:43
In reply to Re: risperdal consta, drug delivery systems » xbunny, posted by ed_uk on July 10, 2005, at 10:47:36
Hi Ed
> Modified release products are quite popular in psych eg. Effexor XR.
Is the modified release actually implemented on a chemical level? I thought it was just the capsule contained little beads which dissolved at different rates in your tummy.
> Depot antipsychotics are used quite a lot in the UK. Depixol injection is one of the most popular, one injection lasts 2-4 weeks.
It was all setup to have them myself when I was having problems sticking to taking the tablets. Touch wood it wasnt been required in the end, though if I ever go off my meds and get sick again I am gonna get depots. My last CPN was very into making treatment flowcharts that we both agree on. Im very seriously considering adding to my chart that if I go off my meds and am even slightly irrational then he should start me on the depots right away and use the chart to try and convince me! Being sick just isnt worth the hassle!
>
> >Also I wonder why risperdal consta is an injection and not a pill?
>
> It's difficut to make a tablet/capsule which lasts for more than a day. Depot injections last much longer.I thought depot injections worked because you inject an oil containing the drug into a muscle and then the drug is slowly released from the muscle into the blood. But is that really required with risperdal consta since the delay mechanism is from the dissolving of the little plastic globs?
Seems to me if you could get antipsychotic tablets which you could take once every couple of weeks or once a month you would have a winning product. Easier to stick to taking and less nurse required to administer the drug ("swallow... your done! see you next month.")
Of course its probably useless for me anyways since I doubt any of the drug companies would make any effort to develop improvements to the old drugs since all the money is in atypicals. :-(Buns
poster:xbunny
thread:525683
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050708/msgs/525775.html