Oral medications are typically categorized as either tablets or capsules. While these forms appear side-by-side on pharmacy shelves, they represent distinct approaches to drug formulation and manufacturing. A caplet is a specific type of tablet. For consumers, the choice often comes down to comfort and dosing flexibility. Understanding the differences in their physical makeup helps clarify why a manufacturer selects one form over the other.
Defining Physical Characteristics
A tablet is a solid dosage form created by compressing powdered or granulated active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients into a dense, single unit. Traditional tablets are often round or disc-shaped, but they can also be oval or oblong.
Many tablets feature a score line, a shallow groove designed to allow for accurate splitting and dosage adjustment. If a tablet lacks a protective outer layer, it may expose the user to the raw taste of the drug ingredients, which can sometimes be chalky or bitter.
A caplet is a specialized tablet compressed into an oblong shape, resembling a capsule. This elongated form combines the solid, compressed nature of a tablet with a sleek exterior. Caplets are almost always film-coated, which gives them a smooth, glossy exterior. This coating serves several functions, including taste-masking the drug and creating an easier-to-handle surface.
Swallowing Ease and Dosing
The elongated and smooth shape of the caplet makes it easier for many individuals to swallow compared to a large, traditional round or oval tablet. The caplet’s reduced friction, provided by its film coating and tapered ends, allows it to slide down the esophagus more readily. This improved swallowability is a significant factor in patient compliance, particularly for those who experience difficulty swallowing pills.
The ability to split the medication for customized dosing is where tablets and caplets often diverge in function. Many traditional tablets are engineered with a score line, confirming that the drug content is uniformly distributed. This ensures each half contains a precise fraction of the total dose.
Caplets, by contrast, are typically unscored and should not be split. Splitting an unscored caplet can compromise the integrity of the film coating. This coating may be designed to protect the drug from stomach acid or mask an unpleasant taste, potentially affecting the drug’s intended release mechanism or stability.
Security and Tamper Resistance
The widespread adoption of the caplet shape was influenced by a need for enhanced consumer safety in the 1980s. Prior to this, many medications were sold in two-piece, powder-filled capsules. These capsules could be easily separated, adulterated, and reassembled without obvious signs of manipulation. This vulnerability was exposed during the Tylenol poisoning events in 1982, which led to a demand for more secure drug forms.
Manufacturers responded by replacing the easily compromised capsules with the solid caplet form. Because the caplet is a single, compressed unit, it cannot be pulled apart and refilled like a traditional two-piece capsule. This solid structure, combined with the subsequent introduction of tamper-evident packaging, made it more difficult to contaminate the oral dosage form itself, restoring confidence in medications.