CAPSULES
Capsules are solid dosage forms in which the drug substance is enclosed in either a hard
or soft soluble container of suitable form of gelatin. They are intended to
mask the smell and taste of the drug substance. Capsules are tasteless, easily
administered and some patients prefer them to the tablets.
1.
Hard
gelatin capsules, also
referred to as dry-filled capsules (DFC), consist of two sections, one slipping
over the other, thus completely surrounding the drug formulation. Commercially
filled capsules have the conventional oblong shape.
2.
Soft
elastic capsules are
soft, globular, gelatin shells somewhat thicker than that of hard gelatin. They
may be round, oval, oblong, or tube-shaped and the contents may be liquid,
paste, or powder. Oil-soluble
drugs, (e.g. vit A, E) can be administered in SEC.
3.
Enteric-coated
capsules remain intact in the stomach, but dissolve and release
the contents of the capsule once it reaches the small intestine. They delay the
release of drugs which are inactivated by the stomach contents or may irritate
the gastric mucosa. Enteric coatings are prepared of synthetic polymers.
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