Official and Commercially

Available Capsule

Examples of some Official Capsules

OFFICIAL CAPSULE

REPRSENTATIVE
COMMERCIAL
CAPSULES

STRENGHT

CATEGORY

AMOXICILLIN

Wymox (WyethAyerst)

250, 500 mg

Antibacterial

AMPICILIN

Omnipen (WyethAyerst)

250, 500 mg

Antibacterial

CAPHALEXIN

Keflex (Dista)

250, 333, 500,

750 mg

Antibacterial

DIPHENHYDRAMINE
HCl

Benadryl HCl (ParkeDavis)

25 mg

Antihistamine

DOXYCYCLINE
HYCLATE

Vibramycin (Pfizer)

100 mg

Antibacterial

ERYTHROMYCIN
ESTOLATE

Ilosone (Dista)

250mg

Antibacterial

FLUOXETINE HCl

Prozac (Dista)

10, 20, 40 mg

Antidepressant

FLURAZEPAM HCl

Dalmane (Roche)

15, 30 mg

Hypnotic

INDOMETHACIN

Indocin (Merck)

25, 50 mg

Anti-inflam,
Antipyretic,
Analgesic

LEVODOPA

Larodopa (Roche)

100, 250, 500 mg

Antiparkinsonian

LOPERAMIDE HCl

Imodium ( Janssen)

2 mg

Antidiarrheal

Some medications Commercially Prepared into Soft

Gelatin
Capsules
Drug
Trade Name
Contents & Comments
(Manufacturer)
Acetazolami Diamox Sequel
de
( Duramed)

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, slightly watersoluble powder. Contains coated pellets of

sustained-release drug

Amprenavir

Agenerase Capsule
(GSK)

Treatment of HIV infections. Contains dalpha tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1,000

succinate, polyethelene glycol 400, and
propylene glycol

Cyclosporin
e

Sandimmune
(Novartis)

Immunosuppresive, slightly water-soluble

crystalline powder. Contains corn oil,
polyoxyethylated glycolyzed glycerides

Cyclosporin
e

Neoral (Novartis)

Contains dehydrated alcohol, corn oil, polyoxyl 40

hydrogenerated di-, and triglycerides, polyoxyl 40
hydrogenerated castor oil; forms microemulsion in
contact with aq fluids for enhanced bioavailability

Digoxin

Lanoxin (GSK)

Cardiac glycoside, practically water-insoluble

powder. Dissolved in polyethelyne glycol 400,
ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and water

Ethosuximid Zarontin (Parke-Davis)

e
Ranitidine

Anticonvulsant, water-soluble powder.

Contains polyethylene glycol 400

Zantac Geldose (Glaxo Histamine H2-receptor inhibitor, watersoluble granular powder in nonaq matrix of
Wellcome)
synthetic coconut oil, triglycerides

Inspecting, Counting,
Packaging, and Storing

 Capsules should be uniform in appearance

To detect flaws in integrity and appearance
Visual inspection
Electronic inspection

cGMP regulations require that if the number of

flaws are excessive, the cause must be
investigated and documented
Capsules should be stored in tightly capped
containers in a cool, dry place

Ways to count
Specially designed trays
Used for small numbers of solid dosage
units
With this method, the dosage units are
remained untouched

 In some community and hospital

pharmacies
Small automated counting and filling
machines may be used
Computer-based automated dispensing
system are also available that will fill,
label, and check the drug using bar code
or video system

 Industrial scale
Large automated pieces of equipment
Count and transfer the desired number of
units in bulk containers
Containers are then mechanically capped ,
inspected (visually/electronically), labeled
Capsules are packed in glass or plastic
containers
Some containing packets of desiccant to prevent
excessive absorption of moisture

 Pharmacies that serves nursing

homes and hospitals
Provides sanitary handling of medication
Ease of identification
Security in accountability for
medications

example unit-dose package of capsule

Typical small-scale strip packaging equipment

Oral Administration
of Solid Dosage

 Ingesting solid dosage forms with adequate

amount of fluid is important
Taking capsule or tablet without water can
be dangerous it could lead to the possibility
of capsule or tablet lodging in the
esophagus Esophageal ulceration
Among the drugs of greatest concerns are
Alendronate sodium
Aspirin
Ferrous sulfate
Any NSAIDs
Potassium chloride
Tetracycline antibiotics

 Patients with gastroesophageal reflux

disease must take their medication
Administration of oral medication in relation
to meals is very important because of the
bioavailability and efficacy of certain drugs
may be severely affected by food or drinks
Coated oral dosage forms or those designed
to provide controlled drug release should not
be chewed, broken, or crushed