CAPSULES

CAPSULES

  Are solid dosage forms in which one or more medicinal and or inert substances are enclosed within a small shell or container generally prepared from a suitable form of gelatin.  Depending upon their formulation, the gelatin capsule shells may be hard or soft.

Characteristics:

1.  May be swallowed whole by the patient

2.  May be inserted into the rectum for drug release and absorption from the site

3.The contents may be removed from the gelatin shell and employed as a pre measured medicinal powder, the capsule shell being use to contain a dose of the medicinal substance.

Example: Theo-dur Sprinkle

4.  Elegance

5.  Ease of use

6.  Portability

7. Tasteless shell to mask the unpleasant taste/odor of the drug

8. Permits physician to prescribe the exact medication needed by the patient

9.  conveniently carried

10. readily identified

11. easily taken

12. tasteless when swallowed

13. commonly embossed or imprinted on their surface the   manufacturer’s name and product code readily identified

14. available in variety of dosage strength

15. provide flexibility to the prescriber and accurate individualized dosage for the patient

16. packaged and shipped by manufacturers at lower cost less breakage than liquid forms

17. more stable and longer shelf life

Components Of Capsules

1.  Gelatin

2.   FD & C and D & C colorant

3.  Sugar

4.  Water - 12 to 16 % but may vary depending on the storage condition

5.  Sulfur dioxide (.15%) - prevent decomposition during manufacture

6.  Opaquants/Opacifying agent - titanium dioxide

H   HARD GELATIN CAPSULES

A   Also referred to as “DFC” Dry Filled Capsule. Manufactured into two sections, the capsule body and a  shorter cap. 

A A recent innovation in capsule shell design is the Snap-Fit, Coni-Snap, and Coni Snap Supro hard gelatin capsules.

CaCapsule size

F  For human use, empty capsules ranging in size from 000 the largest to 5 the smallest.   Generally, hard gelatin capsule are used to encapsulate between 65 mg to 1 gram.


  SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES 
Also referred to as as Soft ElasticCapsule.  Are prepared from shells of gelatin from which glycerin or a polyhydric alcohol and as sorbitol has been added to render the gelatin elastic or plastic like.
Tthe gelatin is plasticized by the addition of glycerin, sorbitol or polyol.  The shell may contain preservatives to prevent from fun 

soft gelatin capsule has a seam at the point of closure of the 2 halves, and the contents can be liquid, paste or powder.