Capsules are a solid dosage form with a drug substance enclosed in a water soluble shell made of gelatin. They come in both hard and soft forms. Capsules have advantages like masking unpleasant tastes and smells, allowing sustained release, and being economical and easy to handle. However, hygroscopic drugs cannot be filled in capsules as they may absorb water and break. Capsules come in various standard sizes depending on their capacity. Soft gelatin capsules can have different shapes and their contents include liquids or solids dissolved in excipients to form a paste. They are sealed during the combined filling and sealing operation on machines.

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2. CAPSULES
Capsules are a solid dosage form in which the drug substance is
enclosed in a water soluble shell or an envelope. A capsule shell is made
from gelatin. The capsules are available both as hard capsule and soft
capsule.
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3. Advantages :
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• The drug having unpleasant odour & taste can be
administered by enclosing them in a tasteless shell.
• Smooth become very slippery when moist &can be
easily swallowed.
• They are economical. Easy to
handle &carry.
• Release the medicament as and when desired in GIT.
• They are made up from gelatin hence theyare
therapeutically inert.
• They are attractive inappearance. Available in various
sizes .
• Microencapsulation provides the sustained release
dosageform.

4. Disadvantages:
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1.The hygroscopic drugs cannot be filled in capsules.
They absorb water present in the capsule shell &make
it very brittle, which ultimately breaks intopieces.
2.The concentrated preparation which need previous
dilution are unsuitable for capsules because it may
lead to irritation in stomach if administered assuch.

5. Types of Capsules
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1.Hard gelatin capsules
2.Soft gelatin capsules

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(cm3
)
SIZE Capacity in mg VOLUME
000 950 1.37
00 650 0.95
0 450 0.68
1 300 0.50
2 250 0.37
3 200 0.30
4 150 0.21
5 100 0.13

8. and calcium and kaolin are added to the powdered drug. These
inert materials act as a protective sorbent .

12. SHAPES OF SOFT GELATINCAPSULES:
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18. ROTARYDIE MACHINE:
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19. Sr.No. Hard Gelatin Capsule Soft gelatincapsule
1. Hard Gelatin Capsule shell
consists of two parts 1.Body 2.
Cap
Soft gelatin capsule shell become asingle
unit after sealing the two halves of the
capsules
2. They are cylindrical in shape They are available in round , oval & tube
like shapes
3. The contents of a hard gelatin
capsules usually consist of the
medicaments is the form of
powder, beads or granules
The contents of soft gelatin capsules
usually consists of liquids or solids
dissolved or dispersed in suitable
excipients to give a paste like consistency.
4. These are prepared from gelatin
,Titanium dioxide, coloring
agents and Plasticizer
These are prepared from gelatin plasticizer
(Glycerin or Sorbitol ) and a preservative
5. Capsules are sealed after theyare
filled to ensure that the
medicaments may not come out
of the capsule due to rough
handling
Filing and sealing of soft gelatin capsules
are done in a combined operation on
machines

20. PROPERTIES OF THE POWDER TO BE
FILLED IN CAPSULES:-

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