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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Dosage Forms

Capsule

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/ˈkæpsəl/nounCore term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, capsule means: A solid dosage form in which the medicine is held inside a small shell, usually made of gelatin, that dissolves in the stomach or intestine.

In Turkish: kapsül

How it is used

Capsules can be hard (two halves filled with powder or pellets) or soft (one sealed piece, often containing a liquid or oil). Pharmacists are often asked whether capsules can be opened, whether they contain animal gelatin, and how they differ from tablets.

Example sentences

  1. Please don't open the capsules; the coating on the granules protects them from stomach acid.

  2. Is there a capsule that doesn't contain gelatin?

Common collocations

  • hard capsule
  • soft capsule
  • gelatin capsule
  • open a capsule
  • swallow a capsule
  • tabletA solid dosage form made by pressing a powder of the active ingredient and other substances into a small flat or round shape, which is usually swallowed.
  • dosage formThe physical form in which a medicine is made and given, such as a tablet, capsule, syrup, cream, injection, patch or suppository.
  • excipientAny ingredient in a medicine other than the active ingredient, such as a filler, binder, colouring, sweetener or preservative, that helps the product work and keep.
  • enteric-coatedDescribes a tablet or capsule with a special coating that does not dissolve in stomach acid but breaks down later, in the small intestine.

More terms: Dosage Forms

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.