Extended-release (ER only; no IR marketed)
- The molecule ships only as an ER/DR product — no IR exists
- Cymbalta (DR), Invega (OROS), Depakote (DR/ER)
- The formulation IS part of the drug’s identity
- crushing or substituting defeats the design
At a glance
- No IR form is marketed — the release technology is built in
- duloxetine, paliperidone, valproate (Depakote), tamsulosin, alfuzosin, mirabegron, fesoterodine, dimethyl fumarate, mesalamine, doxazosin GITS
Why ER-only exists
- Acid-labile molecules need enteric protection
- duloxetine degrades in gastric acid
- Site targeting: release where the drug works
- mesalamine formulations aim at ileum/colon
- Tolerability: OROS paliperidone avoids the peaks an IR would give
Practical pearls
- Never crush; OROS shells pass intact (warn patients)
- Depakote DR vs ER are NOT mg-for-mg interchangeable
Self-check
- Why does duloxetine need enteric protection?
It degrades in gastric acid. - Why may an intact shell appear in stool after OROS paliperidone?
OROS shells pass intact.
Drugs in this class (10)
All drug classes · Open Extended-release (ER only; no IR marketed) in the interactive console ↗