June 18, 2007 - 7:17pm
Hmmmm....I wonder what this could be?
I can't find a manufacturer on this capsule. It is a yellow shell with a gel goo inside. Any ideas on who makes this thing?
APAP 500: APAP 500 yellow shell with gel inside
FYI: APAP = Acetaminophen (and the APAP comes from the chemical name: n-Acetyl-P-Amino Phenol)
June 19, 2007 - 5:52am
#2
Thanks, pharmdwannabe
Pharmdwannabe, great observation! I think you are correct, especially after looking at PL's ibuprofen gelcap again:
Seems like whenever I buy gelcap anything, they are packaged by LNK International and have 'made by PL Developments' on the foil backing of the blister card. Apparently the company specializes in soft gels.
I think you've answered 4andsic's question regarding the manufacturer.
Now I have a question. PL's ibuprofen is very large, and the yellow APAP is even larger.
Why are these gel things so much bigger than ordinary ibuprofen or acetaminophen tablets?
And 4andsic, thanks for the explanation of the abbreviation 'APAP'. Someone just asked me this question last night, and now I don't have to go looking for the answer.
I'm not a pharmacist or a medical doctor. This message is not medical advice nor is it an offer to provide medical advice. All drug identifications should be validated by a licensed MD or pharmacist.
June 19, 2007 - 12:06pm
#3
im pretty sure APAP is a
im pretty sure APAP is a tylenol product and the 500 is the MG just a guess though
June 19, 2007 - 12:14pm
#4
opposite day
Thanks guys for your research and responses - excellent work.
The only thing I would have a comment on is the term "softgel". The softgel capsules I have had in the past are just that: kind of a soft, thin, pliable outer layer. This is nothing like that. This capsule is hard as a rock - I had to put great pressure on a blade just to punch a hole through the outer shell, which is fairly thick. (I'll post an image of the hole in the capsule shortly)
I liken this to the term "softball". If you've ever been hit with a "softball" you know it's anything but soft. This "softgel" isn't very.
4andsic
June 19, 2007 - 4:19pm
#5
lol, good analogy
lol, good analogy 4andsic:)
all thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical advice. i am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. all medical questions should be answered by a licensed pharmacist, doctor, or primary care manager.
June 19, 2007 - 5:08pm
#6
hull breach
Here is the hole in the APAP 500 capsule. You can see the shell is very thick and hard (well you can't really "see" hard, but you get my drift). It must take FOREVER for this thing to dissolve in the stomach...weird.
APAP 500 hole: APAP 500 hole
June 19, 2007 - 5:59pm
#7
Wow!
Well, you answered my question why the APAP 500 mg gelcap is so big! That shell has to be at least 1 - 2 mm thick. Incredible. I guess this pill wouldn't be called a 'rapid release' gelcap, would it?!
I did see the yellow gelcaps today - Safeway brand. Lot code is similar to PL Developments' code from the dollar stores. So pharmdwannabe is right - no doubt. Most I have are repacked by LNK and bought at Walgreens, but the dollar stores have the PL lot code on the box (RXXX). There was no imprint info on the box image, but it did have a drawing of a yellow 'softgel' and said 'actual size' (horsepill). I saw it 20 feet away and recognized it immediately!
Thanks.
I'm not a pharmacist or a medical doctor. This message is not medical advice nor is it an offer to provide medical advice. All drug identifications should be validated by a licensed MD or pharmacist.
June 24, 2007 - 11:04am
#8
APAP 500 Yellow Gelcap
More on the thick-shelled APAP horse pill.
Walgreens has a yellow liquid filled gelcap on sale this weekend for $1.99 plus register rewards where you get a $1.99 credit to use later. So essentially these things are free.
The box states "fast liquid filled relief". Who are they kidding - if the shell is as thick as the one shown in 4andsic's 'hole' image??
I don't know if it's the same imprint. The yellow gelcaps were not available at Walgreens earlier last week, so they are new.
I'm not a pharmacist or a medical doctor. This message is not medical advice nor is it an offer to provide medical advice. All drug identifications should be validated by a licensed MD or pharmacist.
Nothing is showing up tonight in Micromedex. That's three strikes out.
I haven't seen yellow APAP before but I have a hunch it's made by PL Developments. Look at PL's product page at http://www.pldevelopments.com/images/productss.pdf
and notice the yellow APAP softgels. Page even states STAND ALONE ITEM, so it's probably the first APAP yellow gel to hit the market.
Let me know what you think.