You won’t find a chemist in the UK who will encapsulate API’s for you LondonGirl, unless you know one who will do it as a personal favour. Here is a more detailed version of my method that Greg asked me to put together for him:
Encapsulating Daclatasvir API into useable form
The Process
1) I bought some ‘precise digital scales’ from myprotein.com, which I first calibrated with a couple of quantified small weights. These scales weigh in increments of 10mg.
2) I then put the Daclatasvir into the big end of pharmaceutical grade gelatin capsules (size 3, which I had check weighed at 40mg), which I had bought from The Alchemists Apothecary on ebay.
3) I then weighed them with the capsule cap loosely fitted. It was trial and error, but I soon got a feel for aproximately the correct amount (60mg + 40mg capsule weight) without having to re-weigh several times.
4) I weighed each batch of 20 filled capsules to check that the total weight was 20×1 dose + 20 capsules, which they were. I did this process 4 times.
5) I followed the same methodology as above (4) to produce 5 more loaded capsules.
6) I check weighed the whole batch, divided the weight by 85 and subtracted 40mg (the capsule weight) from this to triple check that I had the correct dosage per capsule.
7) I pressed all the capsules tight (the large section and cap click together). I then put them into an empty re-sealable vitamin container with a sachet of silica (it helps eliminate moisture from the air in the container).
Notes
1) myprotein.com is a UK company. You should be able to obtain a similar product in most countries. It should be easy to find them by Googling ‘precise digital scales’.
2) If I was to do this again, I would try to find scales that weigh in increments of 1mg if they were not too expensive. This would eliminate the need for so much check weighing (though I would probably still check weigh for peace of mind).
3) The Alchemists Apothecary is also a UK company (you can collect from the ebay counter in Argos stores). But, again, it should be easy to find capsules through Google in your own country.
4) Don’t get the enteric-coated delayed release capsules. This medicine is designed for immediate release in the stomach.
5) This method is best suited to encapsulating individual medicines, but the same process with adjusted dosages can be used for Ledipasvir (90mg) and Sofosbuvir (400mg).
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