Drug release

Drug release is the physiological and chemical process by which a drug substance is liberated from its dosage form (e.g., tablet, capsule, or patch) and becomes available for absorption into the systemic circulation (StatPearls, 'Pharmacokinetics', 2023). It constitutes the first stage of the LADME (Liberation, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) framework, which describes the movement of drugs through the body (FDA, 'Guidance for Industry', 1997). Unlike biological targets such as receptors, enzymes, or ion channels, drug release is a pharmacokinetic event and not a molecular entity with which a drug interacts to produce a therapeutic effect (IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY, 2024). The rate and extent of drug release are determined by the drug's solubility, the formulation's excipients, and the environmental conditions at the site of administration, such as gastrointestinal pH or enzymatic presence (PubMed, 'Mechanisms of Drug Release', 2021). Controlling this process is a cornerstone of pharmaceutical technology, allowing for modified-release profiles that can improve patient compliance and therapeutic outcomes by maintaining steady-state drug levels (NIH, 'Controlled-Release Systems', 2022).

Other names

Drug liberationDrug dissolutionModified releaseControlled releaseSustained releaseDrug delivery mechanism

Not applicable; drug release is a pharmacokinetic process involving the liberation of an active ingredient from its delivery system, not a biological molecule that mediates drug action.