Oral controlled release drug delivery systems can be classified into single unit dosage forms (e.g. tablets or capsules) and multiple unit dosage forms (e.g. pellets, granules or microparticles). Multiple unit dosage forms can offer several advantages, including spreading uniformly throughout the gastrointestinal tract, avoiding high local drug concentrations, improving the bioavailability because of the better distribution of multiparticulates along the GI-tract and reducing inter- and intra-individual variations in bioavailability-caused by food effects. With regard to the final dosage form, the multiparticulates are usually formulated into single unit dosage forms such as filling them into hard gelatin capsules or compacting them into tablets. The advantages of tableting multiparticulates include a reduced risk of tampering and less difficulties in oesophageal transport when compared with capsules, which makes the compression of multiparticulates into tablets is becoming more popular. Large volume tablets generally also have a higher patient compliance than capsules. Tablets from pellets can be prepared at lower cost when compared to pellet-filled capsules because of the higher production rate of tablet presses.
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