When it comes to choosing between capsules and tablets, there are a number of factors to consider, including the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient), the customer preference, and the specific needs of your product.
Tablets are solid dosage forms, created by compressing powders in a tablet press. Tablets are widely familiar to consumers and have been available longer than capsules, so there is an extra degree of comfort in the consumer market generally with the use of tablets. Tablets can be made into a wide range of different sizes, shapes, colors, and are sometimes embossed, though this does increase the price of the capsule significantly. Tablets also have breaker lines so that consumers can split their dosage in half or even quadrants.
Capsules use two-piece hard-shell empty capsules to enclose the excipients and API of your product. Capsules are easier to swallow than tablets, especially for people with dysphagia. They can also be made organic, which is not typically possible with tablets.
Here is a more detailed comparison of the two formats, based on some of the key factors to consider when making your decision:
Cost of production: Tablets are cheaper to produce than capsules because the manufacturing process is faster. Tablet presses can produce more tablets per hour than capsule fillers.
Speed of production: Tablets are generally faster to produce than capsules, with tablet presses producing up to 1 million tablets per hour, compared to 450,000 capsules per hour for the fastest capsule filling machines that are supplied by CAPTEK.
Ease of swallowing: Capsules are easier to swallow than tablets, especially for people with dysphagia.
Ability to tailor the product to the consumer’s needs: Both capsules and tablets can have a unique combination of ingredients, allowing you to tailor them specifically to your consumer’s needs.
Ability to hide the taste and smell of the formulation: Capsules are better at hiding the bad taste and smell of some formulations than tablets. Tablets can also do this, but will need to go through a coating process, which adds to the cost.
Presence of filler ingredients: Both capsules and tablets contain excipients, which are ingredients other than the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Excipients serve a variety of purposes, such as helping to bind the tablet together, or making it easier to swallow.
Shelf life: Tablets have a longer shelf life than capsules. Capsules are sensitive to heat and moisture, and must be stored in a specific way to ensure that they do not deteriorate.
Potential for irritation to the gastrointestinal tract: Tablets are more likely to cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract than capsules.
Overall, both capsules and tablets have their advantages and disadvantages. The best way to decide which format is right for you is to consider the pros and cons of each format carefully, and examine the specific needs of your product and your customers.