today we're learning about the forms that medications can come in we call these dosage forms understanding dosage forms is key to ensuring effective and safe medication delivery a dosage form is the physical form in which medication is prepared for patient Administration this includes everything from tablets and capsules to liquids and injectables dosage forms can be broadly categorized into solids and liquids this variety allows for flexibility in how medications are delivered to patients let's focus first on solid forms in this video first on the list is capsules capsules are the most common form of solid dosage forms they are small oblong gelatin containers that hold medication inside many patients prefer capsules because they're easier to swallow due to their shape and their gelatin exterior is becoming slippery with fluids capsules come in two main types hard gelatin and soft gelatin hard gelatin capsules have two separate halves which patients can pull apart to sprinkle the contents over food if they have trouble swallowing soft gelatin capsules are more flexible and easier to swallow but cannot be opened next let's talk about tablets tablets vary greatly in shape size and weight most tablets need to be swallowed whole with water and dissolve in the digestive tract patients often refer to any solid oral dosage form as a pill however manufacturers and Pharmacy professionals no longer use that terminology so just refer to them as tablets or capsules let's focus on the different types of tablets caplets are tablets in a capsu likee shape and with a film Inc casing them some examples are Tylenol Extra Strength caplets Al caplets and Advil caplets scored tablets have a center Groove called a score that allows patients to break them by hand or with a tablet cut to take a half dose scored tablets make it easier for patients to get an accurate dose if the pill is split Buckle tablets are placed in the Buckle pouch which is the area between the cheek and the gums sublingual tablets are placed under the tongue active ingredients in these tablets undergo absorption directly into the bloodstream without passing through the digestive tract Buckle tablets dissolve slowly vaginal tablets are absorbed through the vaginal lining these tablets are helpful when patients need fast relief from vaginal irritation or inflammation chewable tablets are chewed thoroughly before swallowing Tums and Pepto-Bismol are some examples of chewable tablets effervescent tablets like Alka-Seltzer contain mixtures of acids sodium bicarbonate and active ingredients these bubbling tablets release carbon dioxide and dissolve rapidly in water patients dissolve these tablets in water water to drink tic coated tablets such as bacil or Dulcolax have a protective outer layer that keeps them from dissolving in the stomach where stomach acids can neutralize or inactivate them instead they dissolve in the intestines orally disintegrating the fast dissolving or rapidly disintegrating tablets are a solid dosage form that dissolves quickly on the tongue usually within 60 seconds patients absorb medication in this form faster than they do when swallowing a solid tablet zertek dissolve tabs is a good example of this let's recap the differences between tablets and capsules tablets come in a variety of shapes sizes and weights making them versatile for different types of medications meanwhile capsules have a gelatin shell that encases the drug providing a uniform appearance most tablets are swallowed whole with water and dissolve in the digestive tract similarly capsules are also swallowed whole and the shell dissolves to release the medication inside tablets can be designed for various absorption rates depending on their type such as immediate release or extended release formulations capsules typically release their contents faster once the outer shell dissolves lastly tablets offer more customization options as they can be split chewed or dissolved capsules are generally designed to be swallowed whole