| Colored Capsules − a Contribution to Drug Safety Sven Stegemann Capsugel, Arlesheim (Switzerland) The unequivocal and precise identification of the drug product is the basis for compliance. Compliance is one of the critical factors with regard to drug safety and efficacy in any therapeutic area. Since elderly people have frequently to take more than one drug during a day, many differentiation options are necessary to achieve an unequivocal identification of the different drug products. Differentiation can either be achieved by color, by form or by imprint. Taken the very small size of drug products into consideration, neither the filigree imprint nor the variations in form are sufficient for the differentiation purposes. Color perception which is part of the early visual system is an automatic process which can not be ignored and which remains to a certain but sufficient degree intact with age. Thus, colors can be recommended to aid elderly in medication management at least in a healthcare enbevironment strategy which could consist of pharmacist intervention, simplified by the use of colors in conciliation, identification and application in various manner (e.g. colored dosage forms, colored patient information cards etc.). The possibility to combine different colors offers the possibility to create a broad range of different and among themselves discriminately combinations. Beside the differentiation aspect, colors can carry information and expectations that may support a therapeutic effect. Colors should therefore be considered and carefully selected during the pharmaceutical development of the final drug product. Key words Colored capsules · Drug safety |
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pharmind 2005, Nr. 9, Seite 1088
