• Question: how many things are in one antibiotic tablet?????????

    Asked by mee3megemel to Alex on 24 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Alex Lyness

      Alex Lyness answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Hey mee2megel,

      I’m not an actual expert on drugs, my job is to design the devices that inject them BUT there is a simple answer to your question: 2 things!

      Normally in a tablet or a capsule there is the API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) or the drug. Antibiotics are given for the treatment of infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and parasites . The important thing to remember about antibiotics is that they DO NOT work on viruses.

      The rest of a tablet is normally made up from excipients (also called ‘bulking agents’) which are inactive materials which are mixed with the drug and then compressed into a tablet. This process ‘bulks out’ the drug so that it’s big enough to pick up. The tablet is also porous so when it gets into the stomach it breaks down quickly. Some examples of excipients include; calcium phosphate, corn starch and sucrose. In a capsule the API/drug is inside and the capsule casing (which is usually made from gelatin) provides the bulk to pick it up.

      2 things = drug + excipient.

      I hope that answers your question.

      You have certainly been asking us a lot of questions, I hope you’re enjoying IAEGMOOH as much as I am. 🙂

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