Pulsatile Drug Delivery System-A Review

Pulsatile Drug Delivery systems (PDDS) are basically time-controlled drug delivery systems in which the system controls the lag time independent of environmental factors like pH, enzymes, gastro-intestinal motility, etc. Traditionally, drugs are released in an immediate or extended fashion. However, in recent years, pulsatile drug release systems are gaining growing interest. These systems are designed according to the circadian rhythm of the body. According to Latin literature Circa means Day and Dian means night. A pulsatile drug release, where the drug is released rapidly after a well defined lag-time, could be advantageous for many drugs or therapies. Diseases wherein PDDS are promising include asthma, peptic ulcer, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, attention deficit syndrome in children, and hypercholesterolemia. This drug delivery system is programmed drug delivery system in harmonization with body clock. The pulse has to be designed in such a way that a complete and rapid dug release is achieved after the lag time. Therefore Pulsatile drug delivery is one such systems that, by delivering drug at the right time, right place and in right amounts, holds good promises of benefit to the patients suffering from chronic problems like arthritis, asthma, hypertension.