Delayed release aspirin for vascular obstruction prophylaxis

A method of providing a blood level of aspirin that does not begin to rise until a predetermined time interval of at least five hours after ingestion of a unit dosage form, the method comprising:

• a) providing a unit dosage form comprising:
• i) a core comprising no more than 20 milligrams aspirin;
• ii) a coating of said core protecting said aspirin from dissolution by gastrointestinal fluids;
• and
• iii) means incorporated in said dosage form for releasing said aspirin into said gastrointestinal fluids in absorbable form after a predetermined time interval of at least five hours after ingestion, during which time interval there is no release of aspirin in absorbable form into the gastrointestinal fluids.

A controlled release pharmaceutical composition in oral unit dosage form for releasing a drug into the gastrointestinal tract at a predetermined time interval after ingestion and not before, the unit dosage form comprising:

• a) no more than 20 milligrams of a drug selected from the group consisting of acetylsalicylic acid and its derivatives;
• b) a coating of said drug protecting said drug from dissolution by gastrointestinal fluids;
• and
• c) means incorporated in said unit dosage form for releasing said drug into said gastrointestinal fluids in absorbable form only after a predetermined time interval of at least five hours after ingestion, during which time interval there is no release of drug into the gastrointestinal fluids from the composition.