The difference between tablets and capsules is that tablets are compressed forms of drugs, while capsules contain drugs in powder form.
The supplement industry has a variety of options for delivering their ingredients to the consumer in the form of capsules and tablets.
Oral medications frequently come in the form of tablets and capsules. They serve a similar purpose, but there are also some significant differences. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages.
Table of Contents
What are Tablets?
Tablets come in a range of sizes and have a greater shelf life. They can also hold a bigger dosage of an active component than a capsule.
They are inexpensive, safe, and effective ways to deliver oral medication.
Many consumers use tablets because they are less expensive. Companies that care more about their margins prefer producing tablets.
The bad point of tablets is that they require sensitive raw ingredients.
Although to make it, ingredients all stick together as a tablet, and it requires binders and chemicals to glue them.
One has to put all those non-nutritive ingredients into the tablet to make it hold its form. The machines used for making tablets exert 20,000 pounds of pressure on each tablet, producing heat that degrades all tablets’ nutrients.
Advantages of Tablets
Consumers widely accept tablets; they have been around longer than capsules.
They can be made into different sizes, shapes, and colors.
Tablets can also have breaker lines so consumers can split their dosages in half or even quadrants.
Disadvantages of Tablets
Tablets can function more slowly and are more likely to irritate your stomach. They might result in a slower rate of absorption. Tablets are generally less appealing to people.
Learn more: What is the Difference Between Vaporization and Evaporation?
What are Capsules?
Capsules are found in two forms, both hard and soft. The soft type typically contains Glycerin, whereas the hard type is dried to have lower water content.
A capsule with an actual measured dissolve rate might be slightly more expensive for us, but the customers will appreciate the benefits of the capsule.
If you look at the actual data, consumers mostly prefer capsules because they are easier to swallow and don’t get stuck in your throat.
They work quickly, leave no bad aftertaste, and you know they are gentle and easy on the stomach.
They do not cause acid indigestion issues that so often tablets can do.
Advantages of Capsules
A capsule is broken down by the body more quickly, allowing your body to absorb the dosage faster.
A huge benefit to capsules is that they are easier to swallow because they are made from soft gelatin or vegetable extracts.
Capsules do have different sizes and colors, but these are fixed. Like tablets, capsules don’t have a nasty flavor.
Disadvantages of Capsule
Compared to tablets, capsules are less hard and are sensitive to moisture.
Capsules can contain animal components like gelatin, which makes them inappropriate for vegetarians. They are also more expensive to create and acquire.
Difference Between Tablets and Capsules
The main difference between capsules and tablets is that a tablet is a crushed powder that includes medicine and also has a coating around it.
Whereas a capsule is essentially a container with two pieces that may be filled with medicine and joined together to produce the capsule.
Another difference between tablets and capsules is that tablets are solid dosage form created by compression of powders.
While encapsulation uses two-piece hard shell capsules to enclose the excipients.
Tablets are cheaper to produce due to the manufacturing process.
A tablet can be produced with controlled release to provide better and more consistent absorption.
Tablets offer fast time delayed or even extended releases while this can be done with a capsule there is less control capsules will release once it passes through the stomach.
A tablet formulation can be made specifically to suit a consumer’s needs with either tablets or capsules; the body first has to break them down before the body can absorb the dosage.
The tablets can contain a higher dosage of your active ingredient compared to capsules they are known to be more likely to cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.
Tablets are more accessible to those who have trouble swallowing them as they can be divided in half and some are chewable.
On the other hand, because they cannot be broken in half or crushed like a tablet, capsules are quick-acting, and flavorless.
Additionally, capsules have a high nutritive value, making it possible for the bloodstream to absorb them more successfully. Both tablet presses and capsule fillers are easily accessible and can be made on a handheld.
What is the Difference Between Capsules and Tablets?
Highlighting the comparison between capsules and tablets in the following table:
| TABLETS | CAPSULES |
| Tablets can be broken and divided into whichever many pieces are needed. | Capsules cannot be split in half or broken in half. |
| Tablets are more affordable. | Capsules cost more money. |
| Tablets come in a variety of shapes, such as flat or disc. | The majority of capsules have a cylindrical shape. |
| Tablets take a while to respond in any way. | Capsules have a faster response time. |
| Tablets have a lengthy lifespan and can maintain their capacity. | Comparing capsules to tablets, capsules have less potential. |
| Tablets come in a variety of sizes and forms. | There is only one size of capsule available or commonly found. |
| The shelf life of tablets is longer. | Capsules have a shorter shelf life. |
Conclusion
Tablets and capsules are both readily available drug forms. Although they typically serve the same goal, there are several variations that are important to note.
We take tablets and capsules, two different types of medication, when we are ill or have an illness. One or more powdered substances are compressed into a solid to make tablets. A fluid or powdery substance is contained inside of a dissolvable plastic capsule.
Read more: What is the Difference Between an Alternator and a Generator?