A stent having a polymeric coating for controllably releasing an included
active agent. The polymeric coating includes a blend of a first polymeric
material, which if alone, would release the agent at a first, higher rate,
and a second polymeric material, which if alone would release the agent at
a second, lower rate over a longer time period. One stent coating utilizes
a faster releasing hydrophilic polymeric material and a slower releasing
hydrophobic material. One stent coating includes a blend of a faster
releasing PLA-PEO copolymer and a slower releasing PLA-PCL copolymer. One
active agent is Taxol. One use of the Taxol delivering stent is to inhibit
restenosis following angioplasty.