The Comparisons Between Tablets and Gel Capsules in Medicine

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Medications come in all kinds of forms. Results are the main priority that patients have with medicine. As such, people might wonder if there are any difference whether a tablets or capsule are more effective and efficient. These are the two most common delivery mechanisms so it does beg the question.

As expected, there are differences between the two that might be relevant. These are some specific details you can learn about tablets and gel capsules, courtesy of where you buy medication online from Canada.

Tablets

The most common form of solid medicine you can find often comes in a plain, white pill appearance that many refer to as tablets. Tablet pills are derived from granulate or powder ingredients that are bonded together during the manufacturing process to make for a small dosage that is easy to digest. Tablets usually contain safe bonding agents that hold this pill together, while the one or two active ingredients that work to help the body as advertised are also included.

Tablets can be coated in order for them to be easier to swallow, either with a type of sugar or other coating. Tablets that are not coated are rougher and might leave a foul taste in the patient’s mouth when swallowed. Coating can also protect the pill from breaking down prematurely from gastric acid until the pill reaches the small intestine in the body. This is so that the pill can deliver the best results without the ingredients getting absorbed inside the stomach. Tablets are often the form of pill of choice for manufacturers as they are easy to make and can last a number of years before expiration.

Gel Capsules

Gel capsules are those glossy, colorful pills that are completely filled with liquid inside. The primary advantage that they have over tablets is that they can work faster. While tablets require 20 to 30 minutes for absorption, gel capsules can only take two to three minutes, so you can feel its effects quickly.

When you consume medicine in a liquid form, all that the body needs to do is break the coating down that encases the liquid. A tablet needs to be broken down entirely, thus explaining the longer time required. Gel capsules can also contain more active ingredients compared to tablets, and there are no bonding agents to be found aside from the coating itself. Speaking of the coating, that makes the gel capsule easier to swallow, and don’t usually have a funky aftertaste to them. The coating is made of a gelatin made of animal protein.

There are a couple of downsides to gel capsules that manufacturers face. The first is that they are expensive to make, as they cost more to make than tablets due to the resources required making gelatin coatings. The second disadvantage is that they do not last as long as tablets before they expire. While it’s intuitive to think the coating can protect the liquid inside indefinitely. In reality, it’s only a matter of time before those ingredients evaporate and patients are left with just colorful water inside.

Summary

There are primarily two types of solid medicine that manufacturers make today: Tablets and gel capsules. Tablets are a series of powdered or granulated ingredients bonded together and can be coated or left uncoated. Gel capsules are small amounts of liquid medicine encased by a gelatinous coating. Both types of pills have their share of advantages and disadvantages both for manufacturers and consumers.

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