Nitrate formulations and drug delivery systems--an overview.

An overview of some of the pharmacokinetic and therapeutic characteristics of nitrate formulations is given here. Significant advances in nitrate formulations and delivery systems have been made in providing better bioavailability and sustained plasma concentrations of these drugs. New dosing modes involving nitrate-free intervals appear to hold promise in avoiding the occurrence of tolerance. These advances may combine to stimulate development of future formulations that will produce the desired therapeutic profile(s) for organic nitrates.