Products
Granules (lat. : grain) are commercially available as pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements and medical devices.
Structure and properties
Granules are preparations composed of solid and dry grains, each grain being a porous agglomerate of powder particles with sufficient strength to allow different handling. The production process is called granulation (pelletizing). It can be built up or degraded. Granules contain one or more active ingredients and various excipients. Distinguished are:
- Effervescent granules
- Coated granules
- Gastro-resistant granules
- Granules with modified release of active ingredient
Effects
Granules have several advantages compared to the powders from which they are made. They have better flow properties, which means they are easier to fill or dispense. No dust develops and therefore less contamination is to be expected. Granules are easier to ingest than powders. Granules are also used as medicines themselves, but they also play an important role in the production of tablets due to their advantageous properties, and they can also be filled into capsules.
Fields of application
For numerous fields of application.
Dosage
Granules are melted in the mouth ( direct granules), chewed, swallowed, or dissolved or suspended in water before ingestion.
Disadvantages
Dosing granules is more complicated compared with capsules or tablets, and a larger volume is required. In addition, a non-coated granule must have an appealing taste. Granules can disintegrate into smaller pieces under the influence of pressure.
