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Dosage from in which unit doses of powder, semisolids or liquid drugs are enclosed within either a hard or soft envelop, or shell.
Capsule
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What is a capsule made of?
A capsule is made of gelatin
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What are two types of capsules?
Which is rapid release; which is standard or delayed?
Hard capsule: rapid release
Soft capsaule: Standard or delayed
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How many capsule sizes are available?
8
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The capacity of each capsule size varies according to the _____ and apparent _____.
combination of drugs; densities
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proper capsule size choice is made bad on the _____ of the fill material.
bulk density
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Which capsule size can hold the most?
000 can hold a volume of 1.37mL
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How is bulk density determined?
by adding a known weight of powder mix to a 100mL graduated cylinder and measuring the volume.
ex. if 75g of powder occupies 100mL volume, then the bulk capacity is 75g/100mL which equals 0.75g/mL
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What is tapped density?
Same method as the bulk density but the graduated cylinder is tapped on a padded surface 100-200 times to settle the powder. This method allows for the powder to occupy less space or add more powder to a given volume.
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What is % compressibility?
% compressibility is determined by subtracting the ratio of the bulk capacity divided by the tapped density from 1 and multiplying by 100.
ex. 1-(0.75/0.88) x 100 = 14.8%)
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What is the rule of seven?
Convert the powder weight per capsule to grains (1 grain = 0.065g)
subtract the number of grains from 7
match the result with a list of capsule sizes per predetermined factor
ex. if you're result is a factor of -1 or 0, your capsule size is 0. If it is -2, your capsule size is 00... -3 is 000.
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What are two ways to prepare a capsule (encapsulation process)?
individual hand filling
capsule machine filling
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an encapsulating machine?
Advantages: filling many capsules in a timely manner
Disadvantages: capsules in the middle tend to get packed with more powder than along the periphery
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What do you check for in the final process of capsule inspection?
- 1. uniformity
- 2. extent of fill
- 3. locked
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During the final process, how do you clean a capsule?
1. roll the capsule between folds of a towel
2. immerse in a container containing sodium bicarbonate, sugar, or sodium chloride and gently roll; followed by draining into a mesh sieve.
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What are the advantages of capsules?
masks the unpleasant taste, aroma, or appearance of a drug
allows powders to be dispersed in an uncompressed form, allowing for quicker dissolution and absorption of the drug
offers versatility to prepare any dose desired for a variety of administration routes
easier to swallow than tablets for some people
can be made to alter the release rate of the drug
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What are the disadvantages of capsules?
can be easily tampered with
can be subject to the effect of relative humidity and to microbial contamination
commercially expensive
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What are physiochemical considerations/modifications of using capsules?
- 1. incompatibilites
- 2. capsules within capsules
- 3. tablets within capsule
- 4. altered release: rapid, slow, delayed (coated to delay)
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What are some additional considerations when making capsules?
- 1. moisture and humidity
- -high humidity will cause capsules to become malformed (although, low humidity will make them dry and brittle)
- 2. flowability
- -magnesium stearate (<1%) when added to powders, increases its flowability, making filling capsules easier (however, magnesium stearate is hydrophobic, and may interfere with dissolution)
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