Long acting drug delivery device and its use in contraception

A method for altering the release characteristics of a long-acting drug delivery device containing two pharmaceutically active drugs, wherein the device has reduced initial release, the method comprising:

• (i) making individual core segments of a polymer matrix material, wherein the individual core segments contain either active drug (A), active drug (B), or neither drug (inactive);
• and
• (ii) assembling the individual core segments in the order A/B/A/inactive,
• wherein the drug B is more soluble in the selected polymer matrix than drug A,
• wherein the core segments are made of silicone elastomer material,
• wherein the core segments are covered with a silicone based membrane, and
• wherein the long-acting drug delivery device is an implant or an IUD.