Lunik Group

Capsules dosage and dosage forms

Capsules are a convenient way to give powdered herbs because they conceal unpleasant tastes or textures. A drawback is that even large capsules can only hold 300 to 600 mg of powdered herb, which means that sometimes many capsules need to be taken to achieve adequate doses. Capsules containing herbal formulations are subjected to the same limitation of flexibility as tablet formulations. Single herbs in capsules do confer prescription flexibility, since one merely prescribes each of the required herbs in capsule form. The disadvantage is that the patient may need to take a large number of capsules in order to achieve adequate doses for several herbs. Concentrated extracts can be used in capsules instead of the powdered herb.

Dosage Forms and Their Routes of Administration

Capsules are solid dosage forms in which the drug and such appropriate pharmaceutical adjuncts, such as fillers, antioxidants, flow enhancers, and surfactants are enclosed in a gelatin shell. A “hard” gelatin capsule is composed of gelatin, glycerin, sugar, and water, whereas a “soft” gelatin capsule is composed of only gelatin, glycerin, and water. Capsules vary in size from 000 to 5. As the number increases the capsule size becomes smaller. The sizes provide a convenient container for the amount of drug to be administered and can be of distinctive shapes and colors when produced commercially.

Generally drugs are released from capsules faster than from tablets because the powdered drug has not been compressed and can dissolve at faster rates. The gelatin (a protein) is acted upon rapidly by the enzymes of the GI tract which permits gastric juices to penetrate and reach the contents to promote dissolution.

Capsules dosage form

Capsules are a unique dosage form use in pharmacy. The basic idea of a capsule is to enclose the drug or active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in an odorless, tasteless, elegant, easy-to-swallow, and easy-to-fill shell. Today there are two main types of capsules: the hard gelatin capsule and the soft gelatin capsule often called softshells. The hard gelatin capsule can be used for dry fills such as powder, liquids, and semisolids, while the softshell is exclusively used for liquids and semisolids. The typically capsule shell is made of gelatin but in recent years, there have been a variety of gelatin alternatives introduced to the market. The vast majority of capsule applications are for oral delivery of an API; however, there are specialty applications such as capsules that can be loaded into dry-powdered inhalers, add reagents as part of a diagnostic kit and occasionally as a suppository base with glycerin.

From the patient perspective, capsules have many advantages, making them among the most popular dosage forms on the market. Generally speaking, most patients consider capsule shells to be smooth, slippery and easier to swallow than tablets. In addition, capsules eliminate all contact between the drug and the mouth, which makes them tasteless and odorless as most drugs have a bitter taste with an unpleasant aftertaste. This greatly improves patient compliance and consequently therapeutic outcomes. In addition, capsules can be made with a clear, high-gloss film that can be attractively colored and printed on, and they can have an elegant appearance which also enhances patient acceptance. For patients who have trouble swallowing, the capsule can be opened up, and the contents sprinkled on a food such as applesauce which is advantageous for pediatric and geriatric patients.

Capsules dosage and dosage forms

Dosage Forms and Their Routes of Administration

Capsules dosage form

Lunik PID Care Capsule

Lunik AK47 Capsule