What is the difference between capsules and tablets?

Question

and why are some drugs administered in capsules while others in tablets? What is the reason for this?

Answer 1

Capsules have like a jelly substance on the exterior and are full of liquid.  Tablets are solid.

Im pretty sure that capsules work quicker being in the liquid form.

:o)

Answer 2

Tablets are completely solid pills, while capsules are casings filled with liquid or gel.  Drugs administered via capsule are usually done that way because they need to enter the bloodstream faster.  Since capsules contain liquid or gel medicine, it works faster than the solid tablets.

Answer 3

Tablets are solid and hard, while capsules usually have  gel-like substace in them. You can cut a tablet in two, you can't cut a capsule in two.  Sometimes a tablet will be administered for that exact reason. The tablets and capsules come in different strengths. Ususally a doctor will say whether they want to patient to have tablets or capsules, but sometimes, capsules are given to the patient because the capsules and tablets only come in one strength, and the patient may only need half of that strength. The patient can then cut the tablet in half, and take the proper strength.

Answer 4

a capsule is powder enclosed inside dissolvable plastic, or a liquid in a jelly-type substance. a tablet is the powder but has been compressed, so is a solid. they are coated in sugar or similar, so there's a few minutes before it starts to go into your bloodstream. This is, i think for safety, if you have found someone who has taken lots of ie. paracetamol, you can make tem be sick and there is no harm done. (providing you find them in time)