When we talk about pharmaceutical drugs, the two most common form of medicines are tablets and capsules. Capsules are defined as a encapsulated shell filled with medicines in powder or gel form. Capsules have been considered as the most efficient method of taking medication since the very beginning.
When we talk about pharmaceutical drugs, the two most common form of medicines are tablets and capsules. Capsules are defined as a encapsulated shell filled with medicines in powder or gel form. Capsules have been considered as the most efficient method of taking medication since the very beginning.
Types of Capsules
Hard-shelled capsules: Hard shell capsules have dry or powdered ingredients. They also include miniature pellets.
Soft-shelled capsules: They have oils and other active ingredients that are dissolved or suspended in oil.
Capsules Ingredients
All capsules are made of liquid solutions of gelling agents like as gelatin (animal protein) and plant polysaccharides. These include modified forms of starch and cellulose and other derivatives like carrageenans . Accordingly we can classify the ingredients of capsules as:
Gelatin Capsules: Gelatin capsules are made of gelatin manufactured from the collagen of animal skin or bone. Also known as gel caps or gelcaps. In gelatin capsules, other ingredients can also be added for their shape, color and hardness like as plasticizers, sorbitol to decrease or increase the capsule's hardness, preservatives, coloring agents, lubricants and disintegrants.
Vegetable capsules: They are made of hypromellose, a polymer formulated from cellulose.