Massachusetts Pharmacy Technician License Practice Test

Which form of medication is designed to slowly release its active ingredients over time?

1. Immediate release

2. Sustained release

3. Effervescent

4. Topical

The correct answer is: Sustained release

The form of medication designed to slowly release its active ingredients over time is sustained release. This formulation allows the drug to be released gradually, providing a prolonged therapeutic effect and often minimizing peaks and troughs in blood concentration levels. As a result, patients may require fewer doses throughout the day, which can enhance compliance with the medication regimen. Sustained release formulations are particularly useful for medications that need a long-acting effect, avoiding the fluctuations in effectiveness that can occur with immediate-release forms. By controlling the release rate, sustained release medications can help maintain consistent drug levels in the bloodstream, achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects associated with rapid drug absorption and elimination. Immediate release forms, in contrast, are designed to release their full dosage quickly, which can lead to a rapid increase in drug concentration followed by a decrease. Effervescent forms are typically used to dissolve quickly in water before ingestion, while topical medications are applied directly to the skin and may not necessarily have a controlled release mechanism. Thus, sustained release is the best answer to the question as it specifically addresses the gradual release principle.