Tablets VS capsules. Which is a better option?

 If you need medicines or dietary supplements to cure your disease or improve your health status, capsules and tablets are the most usually seen oral dosage forms, and they are important options that effect the way medications are absorbed in your body.

Tablet or capsule? When it comes to the issue of tablets vs capsules, we need to make a rational decision. Outwardly, capsules and tablets are different in their shapes and sizes, and they also differ in the aspects of swallowing difficulty, dissolvability, internal availability, sensitivity to environment, etc. This essay will analyze benefits and drawbacks of capsules and tablets, helping you make a better choice when facing the two options.

What Are Capsules?

Knowing basic knowledge of capsules and tablets is essential for you to understand the difference between capsule and tablet.

There are two main types of capsule: hard-shell capsules and soft-shell capsules, respectively used for containing powdered or granular ingredients, and containing liquid formulations. A majority of capsule shells are made of gelatin, while others are made of vegetable (friendly to vegetarians). Samples of these capsule types are shown in pictures below.

No matter what kind of shell is, both hard shells and soft shells are digestible, letting powder and granules enclosed in capsule shells be released in your body. Capsules are soluble, ideal for containing medications which need a rapid efficacy.

Capsules contain mainly medical or health supplement ingredients. Compared to tablets, capsules have less inactive components, to some degree reducing drug allergy. A significant benefit is that capsules are easier to swallow with water.

What Are Tablets?

Tablets are a solid dosage form for the most frequent use in pharmaceutical and health supplement industries. Typically, tablets are small, round or oval objects produced to be ingested orally. They are produced by compressing powder into solid pieces of different shapes and sizes.

In terms of composition, tablets mainly contain active pharmaceutical ingredients— the “API”, while other components include fillers (for increasing the tablet bulk especially when API is of a small amount), binders (for holding a tablet together), disintegrants (help a tablet break apart in gastrointestinal tracts, releasing API), lubricants (for reducing friction between tablets and the equipment at production stages), and coatings (for improving flavors or protecting tablets from dissolving in the stomach).

Tablets are easy to be taken along, and it’s convenient to carry them in a paper box or a plastic container. Not susceptible to moisture and light, tablets are unlikely to decay when being exposed to air, offering longer shelf life and higher stability compared to capsules or liquid drugs.

Comparing capsules and tablets, which suits you well?

On the issue of capsules vs tablets, we need to compare the two forms, and there are many aspects in comparing benefits and drawbacks of capsules and tablets. Let’s be acquainted with these aspects and have a clear analysis.

· Composition and allergy

Ingredients enclosed in capsule shells are API. Capsules have less fillers, binders and other components which might cause allergic reaction in your stomach or intestines. Compared to capsules, tablets contain more fillers, binders and other substances which may cause stomach irritation or other allergic reactions.

Enteric coated tablets dissolve in intestines, not in stomachs. If you previously have had stomach problems or any related allergic issue, and you need to take tablets, you had better consider the option of enteric coated tablets, preventing your stomach from being irritated. For safety consideration, you need to consult doctors to select the suitable form of medicine.

· Bioavailability

Capsules are of higher bioavailability, curing symptoms more quickly. In comparison with tablets, since capsules are almost free of binders and equipment pressure at production stages, they can faster disintegrate in your stomach. Gelatin shells can dissolve in your digestive tract, and the API are rapidly released after the dissolution, achieving a higher efficiency of medication releasing and a quicker efficacy. In terms of this, tablets are of slower absorption.

Imagine that you catch a cold in small hours and need to go to work in the morning, cold and flu medicines in a capsule form will meet your demand. The capsule form is also ideal for analgesics, fast relieving patients’ pain.

Different from capsules, tablets are designed to have extended release, providing constant medicine effectiveness. If you are not in need of an immediate medicine effect and desire a long-lasting effect throughout the day, tablets will be suitable for you. In cases of chronic illness such as diabetes and ecthyreosis, the tablet form is a better choice for containing medications.

· Dosage adjustment

Capsules cannot be crushed or split, not flexible for you to adjust your dosage when you need a smaller amount of API. In comparison, it’s simple to crush or split a tablet, allowing you to flexibly adjust your dosage. For example, the dosage of medications like thyroxine and amoxicillin will need to be adjusted according to consumers’ demands at different health stages.

Additionally, when you need high dosages, tablets may be a better option for you, because they can contain a higher volume of medicine than capsules.

·The difficulty of swallowing

Due to the smooth texture of capsule shells, it’s easier to swallow capsules than tablets. It may be to some extent difficult for you to swallow some tablets because of their big sizes.

· Flavor

Since medical ingredients are enclosed in shells, capsules are tasteless, helping you avoid the bitterness of medicines. In comparison, many tablets have a bitter taste, not so friendly to your oral sense.

· Sensitivity to environment

Capsules are more sensitive to environmental conditions like moisture and heat, owning a shorter shelf life. By contrast, tablets are not susceptible to heat, light and humidity, thus they have a longer shelf life and easier storage.

· Friendliness to dietary preferences

A majority of capsule shells are made of gelatin, a protein substance deprived from animals’ skin and bones. Not all capsule shells are plant-based, resulting in rejection among vegetarians and vegans. In the case that you are a vegetarian, tablets could be a better choice.

· Cost of purchase

Generally speaking, capsules are of higher prices than tablets, while capsules will be more effective with faster absorption and higher bioavailability. Therefore, comparatively expensive capsules are worth the extra price. Tablets are cheaper. For instance, in the case of medicines like rifampin and acyclovir, the capsule form is more expensive than the tablet one.  

For pharmaceutical manufacturers, producing tablets are cheaper than producing capsules owing to the manufacturing process. Tablet pressing machines run faster, lowering the cost on mass production. In comparison, one of the highly efficient capsule filling machines can produce about 460,000 capsules/h, while one of the fastest tablet compression machines can produce over 2,000,000 tablets/h.

Rich Packing provides a series of fully automatic capsule filling and tablet press machines, with maximum output reaching 468,000 capsules/h and 2,700,000 tablets/h. We also offer integrated production line solutions, helping you package your huge numbers of pills in blister sheets and cartons, and achieve successful mass production. If you’re in need, welcome to contact us.

Summary

The answer to the question of tablets vs capsules depends on medication characteristics, your preferences, and the status and demands of your health. If you need pharmaceuticals that have easy absorption, faster effects and less inactive ingredients, you could turn to capsules. Moreover, swallowing and tasting capsules will not be uncomfortable.

In another situation, if you need to have prolonged release of medicines and enjoy flexibility in dosage control, tablets may better suit your needs. Capsules and tablets have their specific advantages and disadvantages. By seeking guidance from trusted doctors or pharmacists, and taking your health needs and personal preferences into account, you can make a wise decision on the issue of capsule vs tablet.