What kind of drug formulation is designed to provide a continuous release of the drug over time?

The correct choice, sustained release, refers to a drug formulation specifically designed to release the active ingredient gradually over an extended period. This allows for a prolonged therapeutic effect, reducing the frequency of dosing and maintaining more stable drug levels in the bloodstream. Sustained release formulations can help enhance patient compliance by reducing the number of doses required throughout the day.

While the terms controlled release and sustained release might seem interchangeable, controlled release typically refers to various types of formulations designed to release the drug at a predetermined rate, which can include sustained release. Immediate release formulations release the drug quickly into the system, leading to a rapid increase in drug levels, and delayed release formulations release the drug after a certain period or after reaching a specific site in the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, sustained release focuses on maintaining a consistent drug concentration over time, making it the most accurate choice for this question.