Drug dosage forms, which are housed in oral devices, and methods for controlled
drug release are provided. The oral devices are permanently or removably inserted in the
oral cavity and refilled or replaced as needed. The controlled
drug release may be passive, based on the
dosage form, or electronically controlled, for a high-precision, intelligent,
drug delivery. Additionally, the
controlled release may be any one of the following: release in accordance with a preprogrammed schedule, release at a controlled rate, delayed release, pulsatile release, chronotherapeutic release, closed-loop release, responsive to a sensor's input, release
on demand from a personal
extracorporeal system, release in accordance with a schedule specified by a personal
extracorporeal system, release
on demand from a monitoring center, via a personal
extracorporeal system, and release in accordance with a schedule specified by a monitoring center, via a personal extracorporeal system.
Drug absorption in the
oral cavity may be assisted by an electrotransport mechanism. The oral devices require refilling or replacement at relatively long intervals of weeks or months, maintain a desired dosage level in the
oral cavity, hence in the
gastrointestinal tract, for extended periods, address situations of narrow drug therapeutic indices, and by being automatic, ensure adherence to a prescribed
medication regimen.