Delivery system for omeprazole and its salts

29) A solid dosage form that provides a delayed and subsequently rapid release of omeprazole into an environment of use, wherein the dosage form comprises:

• a core comprising omeprazole and at least one pharmaceutical excipient;
• and
• a time-release non-enteric water soluble or water erodible coating surrounding and in contact with the core, wherein the time-release coating comprises one or more of an erosion regulator or diffusion regulator that regulate the strength, erosion property and/or diffusion property of the coating;
• the coating delays the contact of the core with a fluid in an environment of use for a period of at least one-half hour to delay the release of the omeprazole from the core;
• and the coating subsequently loses its physical integrity in an essentially pH independent manner after the delay period thereby permitting the core to rapidly release the omeprazole into the environment of use.

41) A solid dosage form that provides a delayed and subsequently rapid release of omeprazole into an environment of use, wherein the dosage form comprises:

• a core comprising omeprazole and at least one pharmaceutical excipient;
• and
• a time-release non-enteric water soluble or water erodible coating surrounding and in contact with the core, wherein the time-release coating comprises one or more of an erosion regulator or diffusion regulator that regulate the strength, erosion property and/or diffusion property of the coating;
• the time-release coating is about 100-5000 microns thick;
• and the time-release coating loses its physical integrity in an essentially pH independent manner and delays release of the omeprazole from the core into an environment of use for a period of at least 0.5-3.5 hours after exposure of the dosage form to the environment of use.