Nitric oxide levels in the blood stream are maintained while delivering, in sustained release, medication or therapeutic agent such as an NSAID (e.g. aspirin). This is accomplished by processing, at room temperature or in a low pressure environment without degradation, an amino acid ester with a nitric acid releasing group in an ethyl cellulose-based or other sustained release polymer delivery system. In this manner, in the blood stream nitric oxide levels are maintained at a level to only produce normotension because the nitric oxide is released only during hypertensive moments. The level of nitric oxide release metabolites reaches significance and physiological relevance anywhere between 12 and 48 hours depending upon the individual being dosed level of activity, ambient systolic blood pressure and numerous other factors that create the hypertensive environment that releases nitric oxide from the nitric oxide releasing amino acid ester.
