How to Make Amphetamine Tablets Last Longer in Your Body

This patent describes a specific type of extended-release amphetamine tablet that combines different forms of amphetamine and special coatings to provide a therapeutic effect for at least thirteen hours after a single dose.

What it covers

This patent describes an oral amphetamine tablet designed to release its active ingredient over a long period. The tablet uses a combination of three main components, as detailed in the abstract: an uncoated amphetamine-cation exchange resin complex, a barrier-coated amphetamine-cation exchange resin complex-matrix, and some uncomplexed amphetamine. One or more of these components can include blends of different forms of amphetamines. This specific design ensures that a helpful amount of amphetamine is available in the body within about one hour and continues to work for at least thirteen hours after taking the pill. For example, a person taking this tablet once in the morning would experience the drug's effects throughout the entire day.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover immediate-release amphetamine tablets that release all their active ingredient quickly.
• —Does not cover extended-release formulations that achieve their effect solely through a single type of coated amphetamine complex.
• —Does not cover extended-release mechanisms that do not involve a cation exchange resin complex.
• —Does not cover formulations that lack either the uncoated complex, the barrier-coated complex-matrix, or the uncomplexed amphetamine component.
• —Does not cover other types of drugs, only amphetamine compositions.

The clever bit

The clever part is combining multiple distinct amphetamine components—uncoated complex, barrier-coated complex-matrix, and uncomplexed amphetamine—potentially with different amphetamine forms, to precisely control the drug's release. This allows for both a quick initial effect and a sustained release over many hours from a single tablet.

Why it matters

Extended-release amphetamine formulations are crucial for treating conditions like Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. They allow patients to take a single dose daily, maintaining steady drug levels and improving adherence to treatment. This approach avoids the need for multiple doses throughout the day, which can be inconvenient and lead to missed doses.

Real-world examples

• 1.Adderall XR
• 2.Vyvanse
• 3.Concerta (for methylphenidate, but similar extended-release principle)
• 4.Most modern extended-release ADHD medications