1st ever 3D-printed drug approved

I find this story a little cool, but scary at the same time. I mean seriously, are people going to actually take this stuff? There's got be some kind of side effects to this, but the story doesn't really give any details about the product.

Not a very long story but here is the Source

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first prescription drug made through 3D printing: a dissolvable tablet that treats seizures.

Aprecia Pharmaceuticals said Monday the FDA approved its drug Spritam for adults and children who suffer from certain types of seizures caused by epilepsy. The tablet is manufactured through a layered process via 3D printing and dissolves when taken with liquid.

The Ohio-based company says its printing system can package potent drug doses of up to 1,000 milligrams into individual tablets. It expects to launch Spritam in the first quarter of 2016.

What's your thoughts about this? Would you take a 3D printed drug? I think I'll pass on this one.

a reply to: RealTruthSeeker

It was bound to happen, I've seen this concept in various scify plots.

Only a matter of time before brains are harvested and with this tech to print endless amounts of powerful street drugs.

I've actually been developing a reusable technology based around all the 3d printer techs, someday I'll get around to a gofundme page or kickstarter, until then, I'll be here commenting.

a reply to: RealTruthSeeker

Pros,
3d printing would allow better dosage controls than the current one pill fits all situation.

Cons,
3d printing is going to cut a lot of jobs in the near future.

Overall I just see this as an alternative to current pressing of pills, interesting for sure!

Some drugs are packaged into large capsules containing micro-capsules of the different drugs. The packaging is designed to resist stomach-acid and dissolve slowly so that the drugs can be released into the bloodstream over a day. It requires complex machinery kept in a clean-room environment to mix, blend, seal, all those capsules together.

If you can simply 3D-print the whole mix of drugs, acid-resistant packaging, that's going to save a lot of space.

a reply to: RealTruthSeeker
How does it work, (not the drugs effectiveness) the printing process? Pills are molded for instance...