Understanding The Differences Between Tablets And Capsules in Aurora?

Both capsules and tablets are oral pills, but they differ in several important ways. Some consumers may prefer one form over the other based upon these differences. Prices may differ between capsules and tablets. Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider and pharmacy to ensure you receive the most cost-effective solution.

The price difference between capsules and tablets is one of the most obvious examples of random pricing of medications. Even though most pharmacists and providers know that a medication will work the same in either capsule or tablet form, many do not know that the price difference is so great.

We will examine some of the pros and cons of capsules and tablets in this article of our Aurora compounding pharamcy.

What is the Difference Between a Capsule and a Tablet?

There are some key differences between tablets and capsules, including their price. Tablets and capsules are both pills taken by mouth. Both enter your system in the same way since they pass through your digestive tract.

So, what is the difference between the two? The first difference is that tablets contain all the medication, whereas capsules contain only the medication within the shell. Moreover, capsules cannot be crushed or broken, whereas tablets can often be.

However, some things are more surprising, such as the price difference between a tablet and a capsule. It would be best if you asked your doctor about the price of your medication to determine whether it varies depending on whether it is in capsule or tablet form.

Tablets

A tablet is a capsule containing only medication. A solid, smooth pill is formed by compressing powdered medicine. Several different shapes and colours are available for tablet medicines, including round, elliptical, and coloured tablets. The lines on some tablets facilitate splitting.

Pros

Long shelf life: Tablets tend to last longer than capsules because they are more stable.

Chewable: Several tablets are designed to be chewed, making them easier to swallow.

Higher doses: Tablets can contain more medication.

Easy to split: Cut the tablet in half or thirds for optimal doses.

Different deliveries: You can choose between delayed-release (DR), extended-release (ER), and immediate-release (IR) medicines.

Cons

Slower absorption: Although absorption times vary, tablets are absorbed slower than capsules on average.

Unpleasant taste: Some tablets are flavoured, but you will often experience an unpleasant medicine taste in your mouth and throat after consuming them.

Unpredictable breakdown: Some tablets don’t dissolve evenly once they reach the stomach, which sometimes makes the medicine less effective.

Capsules

A capsule contains medication within an outer shell and is another type of pill. You can find powdered or liquid medications in capsules, but they both work the same way. In the digestive tract, the capsule breaks open, and the active ingredients are then processed by the liver and absorbed into the bloodstream.

Capsule medicines can have a hard or soft shell. As a rule, hard-shelled capsules contain powdered medications; however, they may also contain liquids. The gelatin shells of soft-shell capsules often contain liquid medication, as in the case of a liquid.

Pros

Fast: Capsules have a faster action than tablets.

No taste: Capsule shells generally don’t taste as medicinal as tablets.

Better absorption: Because capsules are more bioavailable, they penetrate the bloodstream more easily, so they are a bit more effective than tablets on average.

Cons

Durability: Sunlight and humidity can affect the potency of capsule medicines.

Shorter shelf life: Tablets usually have a longer shelf life than capsules.

Lower dose: The amount of medication manufacturers can pack into a capsule is significantly less than that of a tablet. Hence, capsules need to be larger to accommodate the same amount of medication.

Animal products: Soft-shell capsules usually contain gelatin.

The Bottom Line

Tablets and capsules both have their advantages. It is important to consider the way the pill interacts with your body and personal preferences, such as taste when deciding whether to take capsules or tablets.

Sometimes your healthcare provider will recommend one form of oral medication over others based on their pros and cons. Ask your provider if a cheaper medication is available, such as a tablet or capsule. If you don’t find that formulation available, you can approach a compounding pharmacy in Aurora and ask them to develop that formulation for you. If you have a problem swallowing tablets and capsules, you can ask a pharmacist to turn them into liquid form. You can even ask them to change the flavour. As far as tablets and capsules are concerned, your healthcare provider can generally shift from one to the other based on your preferences, illness, and treatment needs.