OROS, is a controlled release oral drug delivery system in the form of a tablet

Tablet

A tablet is a pharmaceutical dosage form. It comprises a mixture of active substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or compacted from a powder into a solid dose...

. The tablet has a rigid water-permeable jacket with one or more laser drilled

Laser drilling

Manufacturers of turbine engines for aircraft propulsion and for power generation have benefited from the productivity of lasers for drilling small cylindrical holes at 15-90º to the surface in cast, sheet metal and machined components...

 small holes. As the tablet passes through the body, the osmotic pressure

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, aiming to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides...

 of water entering the tablet pushes the active drug

Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...

 through the opening in the tablet.

OROS is a trademarked name owned by Alza Corporation.

OROS medications: Invega (paliperidone

Paliperidone

Paliperidone , also known as 9-hydroxyrisperidone, is an atypical antipsychotic developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica. Invega is an extended release formulation of paliperidone that uses the OROS extended release system to allow for once-daily dosing...

), Adalat Oros/XL (Nifedipine

Nifedipine

Nifedipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker...

), Jurnista (Hydromorphone

Hydromorphone

Hydromorphone, a more common synonym for dihydromorphinone, commonly a hydrochloride is a very potent centrally-acting analgesic drug of the opioid class. It is a derivative of morphine, to be specific, a hydrogenated ketone thereof and, therefore, a semi-synthetic drug...

), (Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor class. First introduced by Wyeth in 1993, now marketed by Pfizer, it is licensed for the treatment of major depressive disorder , as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, and comorbid indications in...

) ER and Concerta (methylphenidate

Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. It may also be prescribed for off-label use in treatment-resistant cases of lethargy, depression, neural insult and obesity...

).