Extended release formulation of venlafaxine hydrochloride

An extended release formulation of venlafaxine hydrochloride for once daily administration which comprises spheroids containing 37.3% venlafaxine, 62.17% microcrystalline cellulose and 0.5% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose coated with a quantity of a mixture comprised of 85% ethyl cellulose and 15% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose sufficient to give coated spheroids having a dissolution profile in USP Apparatus 1 (basket) at 100 rpm in purified water at 37° C.:

• Time Average % Venlafaxine HCl Released 2 <30 4 30-55 8 55-80 12 65-90 24 >80.

A method for providing a therapeutic blood plasma concentration of venlafaxine over a twenty four hour period with diminished incidences of nausea and emesis which comprises administering orally to a patient in need thereof, an encapsulated, extended release formulation that provides a peak blood plasma level of venlafaxine in from about four to about eight hours, said formulation containing venlafaxine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

A method for eliminating the troughs and peaks of drug concentration in a patients blood plasma attending the therapeutic metabolism of plural daily doses of venlafaxine hydrochloride which comprises administering orally to a patient in need thereof, an encapsulated, extended release formulation that provides a peak blood plasma level of venlafaxine in from about four to about eight hours, said formulation containing venlafaxine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

A method for providing a therapeutic blood plasma concentration of venlafaxine over a twenty-four hour period with diminished incidence of nausea and emesis which comprises administering orally to a patient in need thereof, an encapsulated extended release formulation that provides a peak blood plasma level of venlafaxine in from about 5 to about 8 hours, said formulation containing venlafaxine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

A method for providing a therapeutic blood plasma concentration of venlafaxine over a twenty-four hour period with diminished incidence of nausea and emesis which comprises administering orally to a patient in need thereof, an encapsulated extended release formulation that provides a peak blood plasma level of venlafaxine in about 6 hours, said formulation containing venlafaxine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

A method for eliminating the troughs and peaks of drug concentration in a patient's blood plasma attending the therapeutic metabolism of plural daily doses of venlafaxine hydrochloride which comprises administering orally to a patient in need thereof, an encapsulated, extended release formulation that provides a peak blood plasma level of venlafaxine in from about 5 to about 8 hours, said formulation containing venlafaxine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

A method for eliminating the troughs and peaks of drug concentration in a patient's blood plasma attending the therapeutic metabolism of plural daily doses of venlafaxine hydrochloride which comprises administering orally to a patient in need thereof, an encapsulated, extended release formulation that provides a peak blood plasma level of venlafaxine in about 6 hours, said formulation containing venlafaxine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.