a short - term sustained drug eluting coating for implantable medical devices is disclosed . the coating comprises a biocompatible matrix and at least one pharmacologically or biologically active agent and releases substantially one of all of its payloads within four to six weeks post - implantation . when a combination of pharmacological agents are incorporated in the disclosed sustained drug eluting matrix of a drug / device combination , at least one agent is preferred to substantially release in a short duration . medical devices benefiting from such a desired sustained drug eluting coating include drug eluting cardiovascular , peripheral , and neurovascular stents , abdominal aortic aneurysm prosthesis , anastomosis shunt , arterial / venous shunts etc . one embodiment of the invention is a sustained release coating or depot on or in a stent that releases substantially all of it payload for ischemic myocardial injury after a heart attack . the coating may be formed from biocompatible stable and absorbable polymers of natural and synthetic origins . useful pharmacological agents for inhibiting vascular neointimal growth post - angioplasty that leads to restenosis include macrolide polyenes such as a rapamycin and all its derivatives and analogs ; paclitaxel and all derivatives and analogs . useful agents for other vascular conditions such as vulnerable plaques may comprise anti - inflammatory , anti - proliferative agents , and matrix metalloprotease inhibitors .