Final answer:
Time-released medications refer to medications that are designed to release the active ingredient of the drug over a prolonged period of time. They provide longer-lasting effects and reduce the frequency of dosing compared to immediate-release formulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Time-released medications, indicated on drug labels with words and abbreviations such as extended-release (ER) and controlled release (CR), refer to medications that are formulated to release the active ingredient of the drug over a prolonged period of time. These medications are designed to provide a steady and sustained level of the drug in the body, offering longer-lasting effects and reducing the frequency of dosing compared to immediate-release formulations. For example, extended-release tablets of gabapentin enacarbil, when orally administered, slowly release the drug over time in a controlled manner.