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Tablets, capsules, dragées are by far the most popular forms of drugs. Currently, there are several dozen types of tablets, capsules and dragées - from the simplest to the most complex. Each with different properties and application.
Tablets ,capsules ,dragéesthere are several dozen types - from the simplest to the most complicated. Each with different properties and application.
Claudius Galen - Roman physician born around 130 CE he was the first to notice that the effect of a drug depends on the form in which it is administered. He developed methods of preparing tinctures, juices, extracts, infusions, decoctions and ointments, while tablets were introduced into medicine only in 1874. Technological progress made this form of the drug evolve rapidly, becoming by far the most popular. Currently, there are several dozen types of tablets on the market, differing in design, appearance, mode of action and use. In addition to them, there are also dragees and capsules. Usually all of them are put together in one bag and are simply called "pills". Meanwhile, they are created not only as a result of different production processes, but also have different applications and properties. The knowledge of these features helps in their proper use, and the effectiveness of the therapy depends on it.
Tablets - not only oral
Tablets are made by pressing a powder under high pressure, which is a mixture of medicinal substances and auxiliary substances. This results in a solid drug form which contains an accurately measured amount of the active ingredient. The tablets can be used in a variety of ways - vaginally, implanted, dissolving, and orally. Very often tablets are coated with special coatings. They can make the tablet easier to swallow, mask the taste of the drug substance, increase the resistance of the tablet to the elements, or simply improve its appearance. However, by far the most common goal of tablet coating is to delay the release of the drug substance. Such tablets are often referred to as "enteric" tablets. Their shells do not dissolve in the acidic environment of the stomach, which allows the drug to be safely transported to the intestines - only there the coating disintegrates, releasing the medicinal substance. There are also coatings that allow you to extend the action of the drug by up tofew hours. Their task is to slow down the release of the drug substance from the tablet. Preparations using this technology usually have abbreviations such as SR (Sustained Release), MR (Modified Release), CR (Controlled Release) or ER, XL or XR (Extended Release) in their names.
The coated tablets must not be divided!
Breaking the coating of such a tablet causes a complete loss of its properties. This, in turn, may lead to the premature release of the drug substance, resulting in no drug effect, and sometimes gastric irritation. The exception to this rule are tablets with a clear dash or cross indicating the place of the cut. Such tablets are designed in such a way that their partitioning does not affect the function of the coating. Also, do not take the film-coated tablets with hot liquids or drinks containing alcohol, as this increases the risk of premature dissolution of the coating.
ImportantSnap-Tab
Snap-Tab is a type of tablets that don't require any sharp tools to break them down. Their special design, consisting in a deep indentation at the point of division, means that it is enough to place such a tablet on a flat surface and press with your finger to make it split into perfect two or four parts. In Poland, this type of tablets can be found in the case of drugs such as Bisohexal or Cognomem.
Dragees - in a sweet shell
It is a form of the drug similar to coated tablets, with the difference that their coating is made of sugar (most often sucrose). Such a sugar coating most often makes up 30-80 percent. weight of the whole dragee - much more than in coated tablets.
Capsules - gulp them whole
Capsules were introduced in the second half of the 19th century. Initially, they were the so-called wafers - starch capsules in the shape of two cups, which, when combined, formed a tight and edible container. Their industrial counterpart are currently gelatin capsules - soft and hard. They are filled with powders, granules, liquids, pastes or microdamages. The capsules are not only for swallowing, but also for rectal or vaginal use. Sometimes they are also a packaging for a drug intended to be dissolved, sprayed or rubbed. Capsules cannot be divided. In rare cases, the hard capsule may be opened and its contents taken (e.g. preparations of the bacterial flora for administration to children). There are also capsules that must be crushed before use - this applies to inhaled preparations. To achieve this, the capsule is crushed in a special inhaler and then "pulled" into its lungscontents. Capsules can be coated with special coatings. Their main task is to protect the stomach from disintegration in the acidic environment and to safely deliver the drug to the intestines. For vegetarians, it may be important to know that gelatin is usually used in the production of hard and soft capsules. However, this is not a rule, as special polymers are used more and more often for this purpose. Information on the composition of the capsule should always be included in the package leaflet. Unfortunately, manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to provide such information.