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The abbreviation that describes a dose provided once that lasts a long time is XR, which stands for "extended release." Extended-release formulations are designed to release the medication into the bloodstream slowly over an extended period. This helps maintain a more consistent level of the medication in the body, reduces the frequency of dosing, and can enhance patient compliance by minimizing the number of doses a patient needs to take during the day.

Extended-release medications are often used for conditions that require stable therapeutic levels of the drug, providing a longer duration of action compared to immediate-release formulations. This is particularly beneficial in managing chronic conditions, where maintaining a steady state of medication is crucial for effective treatment.

In contrast, the other abbreviations like XL, LR, and XLD may suggest specific characteristics of medications, but they do not specifically denote "extended release" in the same widely recognized manner as XR does. Thus, XR is the most appropriate answer in this context.