Release patterns of theophylline from compressed tablets prepared from theophylline and various natural gums were examined. Carrageenan, locust bean gum, guar gum, gum tragacanth, and sodium alginate were tested. Release patterns of the drug from tablets prepared from a mixture of carrageenan and locust bean gum were more sustained than those from carrageenan tablets. Changes in release rates caused by changing the gum contents or drug-to-gum ratios were also examined.
