Kenkyu Publishing Group: Rapid and Fast-Release Acetaminophen Gelcaps Dissolve Slower Than Acetaminophen Tablets
Kenkyu Publishing Group published a study titled Rapid and Fast-Release Acetaminophen Gelcaps Dissolve Slower Than Acetaminophen Tablets, discussing the dissolution properties of oral medicinal drugs that are affected by formulation and used to market over-the-counter medications.
Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter pain and fever-reducing medications, with an estimated global yearly market value of over $350 million US dollars. Acetominophen gelcaps are, in general, sold at higher prices than company-matched standard tablets. Standard acetaminophen tablets and rapid or fast-release gelcaps from five major US companies were analyzed using the industry-standard test for dissolution. Results indicate that acetaminophen gelcaps marketed as rapid or fast-release are slower acting under in vitro dissolution conditions compared to the company-matched tablet dose.
The results suggest that the gelatin coating added to rapid or fast-release gelcaps delays in vitro release of medication. The gelcaps tested were approximately half a minute slower to dissolve than the company-matched tablets tested.
Read the complete study here.
