What does the abbreviation "CAP" indicate in pharmacology?

The abbreviation "CAP" in pharmacology stands for "Capsule." This is a common term used to describe a form of medication that is enclosed in a hard or soft gelatin shell. Capsules are designed to dissolve in the stomach or gastrointestinal tract, allowing the active ingredients to be released and absorbed into the bloodstream.

Capsules offer several advantages, such as masking the taste of the drug, providing a controlled release of the active ingredients, and ensuring more accurate dosing compared to loose powders. In many cases, they are preferred over other dosage forms, especially for medications that might be irritating to the stomach lining or that require precise dosage.

In contrast, the other options represent different dosage forms that do not align with the abbreviation "CAP." For instance, "pill" typically refers to a solid dosage form that is not enclosed in a shell but compressed into a round or oval shape. "Liquid solution" refers to medications that are dissolved in a liquid, making them easier to swallow but not fitting the capsule description. An "emulsion" is a mixture of two immiscible liquids, often used for specific types of medications or nutritional products, which also does not correspond to the meaning of "CAP."