The dissolution of micronized diazepam (1.0-10.0%) in interactive mixtures with lactose-povidone, Emdex(R), TabBase(R) and Compactrol(R) as carriers was investigated using the USP paddle method and distilled water as the dissolution medium. Dissolution rate of the binary diazepam-carrier mixtures increased using more soluble carriers such as lactose-povidone and decreased as the diazepam concentration of the mixtures increased. The data were interpreted by considering dissolution from both dispersed and aggregated particles and modelled using monoexponential and biexponential equations allowing the estimation of reciprocal dissolution rate constants for dispersed and aggregated particles (kd and k(a)) and initial aggregate concentrations (C-a). The estimated k(d) parameters were independent of carrier and diazepam concentration while the k(a) parameters varied and were dependent on the aggregate size distribution in the interactive mixtures studied. The degree of aggregation increased markedly with increasing diazepam concentration and was greatest for the less soluble carrier, Compactrol(R). Ternary surfactant interactive mixtures containing diazepam and sodium lauryl sulphate (100:2) adhered to the carrier surface were developed and demonstrated improved dissolution rates which were attributed to the deaggregation effect of the surfactant in the aggregate microenvironment. The effect was most noticeable at 10 percent drug loadings where the surfactant concentration was greatest and where both the k(a) and C-a parameters were minimized.