Pill (pharmacy)
Pill (pharmacy)
A pill (pronounced /pɪl/) is a small, round, solid pharmaceutical product used to administer an active drug or medication. The term "pill" is derived from the Latin "pilula", which means "little ball".
Etymology
The word "pill" comes from the Latin "pilula", a diminutive of "pila", meaning "ball". It was first used in English in the 14th century to refer to a small, round ball of medicine.
Types of Pills
There are several types of pills, including tablets, capsules, and softgel. Each type has its own method of drug delivery and is used for different purposes.
Tablets
A tablet is a type of pill that is typically flat, round, or oval and contains a drug that is pressed into solid form.
Capsules
A capsule is a type of pill that contains a drug enclosed in a hard or soft soluble container, usually made of gelatin.
Softgels
A softgel is a type of pill that contains a drug enclosed in a soft, gelatin shell.
Related Terms
- Drug: A substance used to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
- Medication: A drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease.
- Pharmaceutical: Pertaining to the science and practice of preparing and dispensing drugs.
- Tablet: A solid dosage form of medication.
- Capsule: A small, cylindrical container made of gelatin that contains a dose of medication.
- Softgel: A soft, gelatin-based capsule containing a liquid drug.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pill (pharmacy)
- Wikipedia's article - Pill (pharmacy)
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