Controlled release bases for pharmaceuticals

Extended action controlled release pharmaceutical composition for oral administration, comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active agent distributed in a controlled release core or matrix comprising a higher aliphatic alcohol of 10-18 carbon atoms and a pharmaceutically acceptable acrylic resin, said acrylic resin being in an amount of about 10-60% by weight of the weight of said higher aliphatic alcohol plus said acrylic resin wherein said pharmaceutical agent is amitryptaline, atropine, chlorpheniramine, chlorpromizine, codeine, dexbrompheniramine, diphenylhydramine, doxilamine, ephedrine, hyoscyamine, morphine, oxycodone, papavarine, phenylpropanolamine, propranolol, quinidine, scoplamine or thioridazine.