What is the difference between Capsules and Tablets?

Most times, when a doctor prescribes a list of drugs for patients to buy, there seems to be confusion as to what exactly is the difference between a capsule and a tablet. Capsules and tablets are two forms of drugs, and there are some differences between the two. Tablets are small pills that can be easily swallowed. They can be cut into two because they are solid substances.

A capsule, on the other hand, is a small dissolvable gelatin container containing a dose of medicine. It cannot be cut into two like a tablet. Since the container used is a dissolvable one, the enclosed powder enters into the bloodstream immediately it is swallowed. A tablet, on the other hand, is coated with sugar, and this prevents the drug inside from going into the bloodstream directly. Another difference is that capsules are very easy to swallow compared to tablets and but they are more expensive than tablets.

Capsules and tablets are two formats in which medicines come in. One immediate difference between them is their shape. Capsules are a cylinder, while tablets are flat. A capsule includes either powder or jelly in a gelatin container, and it is unable to be cut.

A tablet is a powder compressed into a solid, which can be cut into two. Another difference between them is price. Tablets are less expensive than capsules, due to their lower cost manufacturing process. With their lower price, tablets also have a longer shelf life than capsules. When it comes to taking them, tablets are harder to swallow than capsules.