What is the difference between tablets, capsules, caplets and softgels?
There are two types of capsule: the two-piece capsule which can be filled with a range of materials from powders to liquids and the much thicker walled ‘softgel’ made as a single sealed unit filled with liquid or semi-solid formulations. Capsules are easy to swallow because of their shape and are great for masking odors and tastes. Tablets are made by compressing and compacting materials using tons of force. Tablet formulations typically contain more excipients than capsules, including binders that help ‘hold’ the tablet together. Many tablets are now made capsule shaped, i.e. caplets, and are usually film coated with various materials, including gelatin, to make them easier to swallow.
