Can the Hard HPMC Vegetarian Capsules be Taken Apart?

For capsule medicines, patients often have such questions: Can the capsules be separated and the medicine powder poured into water to take? In this blog post, Wecaps will share with you whether hard HPMC vegetarian capsules can be taken apart.

Reasons why drugs are made into hard HPMC vegetarian capsules

1. Cover up the bad smell of the drug itself and eliminate the discomfort when taking it.

2. Some drugs are easily destroyed in the stomach or have strong irritation to the stomach, and are made into enteric-coated capsules to ensure that the capsules are dissolved in the duodenum.

3. Some capsules are slow-release or controlled-release capsules, which must be swallowed whole to release the drug in a balanced dose for optimal efficacy. Therefore, whether the capsule medicine can be taken apart depends on the specific characteristics of the medicine.

Advantages of hard HPMC vegetarian capsules for sale

1. Vegetarian-Friendly: Suitable for vegetarians and vegans who avoid gelatin for ethical or dietary reasons.

2. Halal and Kosher Certified: Often meets the dietary guidelines of various religious communities.

3. Chemically Stable: Resistant to cross-linking and degradation, ensuring the integrity of the encapsulated ingredients.

4. Non-GMO: Derived from plant sources, often free from genetically modified organisms.

5. Varying Dissolution Rates: Can be tailored for different release profiles, such as immediate or sustained release.

Detachable capsules

Ordinary capsules: It only has the function of drug packaging and precise dosage, and can be taken separately. For example, most cephalosporin antibiotics, quinolone antibiotics, and most Chinese patent medicine capsules can be taken apart and added to water.

However, some capsules are in powder form, which is easy to stick to the mouth or esophagus when taking them, resulting in high local drug concentration or inaccurate doses. Patients need to drink water as soon as possible after taking them.

Non-detachable capsules

Capsules that are not suitable for splitting Capsules with "enteric coating": enteric-coated capsules are not allowed to dissolve in gastric juice, but only disintegrate and dissolve in intestinal juice. Some drugs are irritating to the stomach (such as aspirin enteric-coated capsules), and some drugs are easily destroyed in gastric acid (such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules). Such enteric-coated capsules cannot be taken separately.

Drugs with strong odor and strong irritating smell: Some drugs have unpleasant or bitter smell. If taken apart, the drug tastes very irritating, and even causes the patient to have nausea and vomiting, such as chloramphenicol capsules. There are also some drugs that are more irritating to the esophagus, such as minocycline hydrochloride capsules. If they are taken apart, they will burn the esophagus and cause esophageal ulcers, so these drugs are not suitable for taking them apart.

"Controlled-release" or "sustained-release" capsules: Most medicines with the words "controlled-release" and "sustained-release" cannot be split, but some capsules are pills, because the small pills have a coating on the outside, which can be used if necessary Open the capsule and take it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are HPMC Vegetarian Capsules?

HPMC stands for Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, a type of cellulose derivative used to make vegetarian capsules. These capsules are an alternative to gelatin-based capsules and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

2. What should be considered before taking apart HPMC Vegetarian Capsules?

Before opening the capsules, one should consider the stability of the contents when exposed to air, moisture, or light. Also, it's important to follow the advice of a healthcare provider to ensure that the intended dosage and method of intake are safe and effective.

3. Can the contents of HPMC Vegetarian Capsules be harmful if taken apart incorrectly?

If the capsules are opened improperly, the contents could be exposed to the environment, which might affect their potency or safety. Additionally, some contents may have a strong taste or could irritate the mouth or throat if not encapsulated.