floats to the back of the mouth and into a good position to be swallowed easily.
Most capsules are intended to be swallowed whole so the ‘lean-forward’ technique should help you. If swallowing difficulties remain, talk to your doctor or health professional about other options.
You’re probably not alone if you’re wondering if capsule covers are made of plastic. It is quite easy to think this as the shells do indeed give the impression they’re made of plastic. The answer to this question is no, the capsule shell is not made of plastic.
Capsule shells are made of bio-degradable material extracted from animals and plants. There are two types of shells for capsules. Both capsule shells are made either from animal or plant extracts or their derivatives.
Capsule shells are made of biodegradable material extracted from animals and plants.
There are various different types of capsules, all with different shells. Many shells are made from gelatin.
This is because gelatin is a natural, safe, non-allergenic, clean, and economical ingredient. There are other types of shells made of potato starch, a vegetarian shell made from tapioca, and some from fish gelatin.
The type of shell on your capsule will depend on the type of drug you’ve been prescribed. The most common types are made out of either hard gelatin or soft gelatin. Soft gelatin capsules are more often used when your medicine is of a liquid variety.
Let’s take a look below at the most common types of capsules.
The shell of hard gelatin capsules contains 13–16% water. Storage of hard-gelatin capsules at very low humidity can cause them to turn brittle and If stored at high humidity, the capsules become flaccid. This is why they are usually presented in packaging material such as aluminum strip packing, or foil. The foil protects the hard-shelled capsule from moisture.
Soft gelatin capsules have soft, globular, gelatin shells somewhat thicker than that of hard gelatin capsules. The gelation is plasticized by the addition of glycerin and other elements to create the softshell. It also may contain a preservative to prevent any fungal growth.
Fish gelatin capsules are preferred for filling marine supplements such as fish oil.
A variety of soft capsules, called VegaGels, are 100% plant-based and contain only starch and lipids with no synthetic additives. Potato starch is the main ingredient of the transparent, smooth, flexible film, which can be shaped, filled, and packaged just like gelatin.
It is safe to swallow capsule covers. In general, the safer option is gelatin because the end product resembles its source far more than vegetarian capsules, and it’s not as chemically processed throughout.
It’s not advisable to open a capsule pill unless you’re advised to do so by a doctor or other medical professional. They may need to be swallowed whole because:
If you’ve been advised to open your capsule pill for any reason, the prescribing healthcare provider will tell you how to do this.
According to The Orlando Clinical Research center, it takes approximately 30 minutes for a capsule to dissolve in the body.
In general, it typically takes approximately 30 minutes for most medications to dissolve. When a medication is coated in a special coating – which may help protect the drug from stomach acids – it may take longer to reach the bloodstream.
For example, aspirin may dissolve in a matter of minutes, while gelcaps may take much longer, due to their gel coating. These pills may also be easier to swallow, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of different medications.
When medications move through the human body, they encounter and are processed by different organs before finally being released into the bloodstream.
While this process may sound straightforward, different drugs dissolve at different rates, different formulas, and dosages breakdown differently – and each persons body metabolizes medication in their own unique speed and way.
We hope this article has been helpful to you. If you need help accessing your medications for an affordable price, get in touch with us or call 1-877-296-HOPE(4673) and speak to one of our representatives, we are always happy to help.
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