Page 1 of 1

Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:28 am
by notasperfectasyou
We called Skips. They want $200 for a one month supply, 90ct 100mg capsules. There are a number of posts about buying the powder in bulk, but no one discusses how to make capsules. So, I'm posting what I have come up with and hoping a few of you might find other sources and check my math.

This link explains the volumes of various capsules:
http://pskills.pharm.ku.edu/phar520/dos ... psules.pdf
the volume of capsule 5 is .13ml

this link provides the density of Biotin:
http://www.guidechem.com/dictionary/en/58-85-5.html
the density is 1.267g/cm3 (1267mg/1.0ml)

based on this I'm thinking 2 #5 capsules would be about 300mg/day. What do you think? Ken

5/20/2016: additional information:

After doing all that calculating and research, it actually worked out that 300mg was FOUR #5 capsules a day, not two. I'm getting ready to reorder a new 100g bag, and I'm also going to order a #3 capsule maker so that Kim (hopefully) will only need to take 2 a day and the capsules will (hopefully) be easier to make.

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 6:58 am
by NHE
notasperfectasyou wrote:based on this I'm thinking 2 #5 capsules would be about 300mg/day. What do you think? Ken
You could always verify your assumptions with a good scale. For example, weigh 20 capsules or so in a tared container to get an average weight of a capsule. Next, fill some capsules. Again weigh several in a tared container. You can then calculate the average weight of the contents of the capsules. However, note that the weight will vary with how firmly you pack the capsules. With practice, you should be able to get fairly consistent weights. Another thing to consider is the dosage. I think that splitting up the biotin intake into 3 doses helps to maintain a more consistent level as the stuff gets cleared out of the body.

By the way, it's good to see you back on the forums!

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:15 am
by notasperfectasyou
NHE wrote:
notasperfectasyou wrote:based on this I'm thinking 2 #5 capsules would be about 300mg/day. What do you think? Ken
You could always verify your assumptions with a good scale. For example, weigh 20 capsules or so in a tared container to get an average weight of a capsule. Next, fill some capsules. Again weigh several in a tared container. You can they calculate the average weight of the contents of the capsules. However, note that the weight will vary with how firmly you pack the capsules. With practice, you should be able to get fairly consistent weights. Another thing to consider is the dosage. I think that splitting up the biotin intake into 3 doses helps to maintain a more consistent level as the stuff gets cleared out of the body.

By the way, it's good to see you back on the forums!
Yes, you are right, I could by a small pocket scale, but I also value the exchange of ideas and group verification that we do here so well. I'm also adding (but not linking) that I've found a capsule maker on Ebay that will make #5 size capsules. Just search for "capsule machine".

Thanks for the welcome. I do miss being here. In a nutshell, I'm pulled in many directions and it's very hard to participate the way I did in the past. Can anyone tell me how Robbie is doing?

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 9:11 am
by NHE
notasperfectasyou wrote:Thanks for the welcome. I do miss being here. In a nutshell, I'm pulled in many directions and it's very hard to participate the way I did in the past. Can anyone tell me how Robbie is doing?
I haven't seen a post from Robbie in 4 years.

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 5:51 pm
by ElliotB
Biotin is tasteless, water soluble and is fast and easy to take with a small amount of water. Capsules, while convenient, are not absolutely necessary. A years supply of bulk pharmaceutical grade Biotin is under $200.

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 1:00 pm
by notasperfectasyou
Update:

We got the pharma-grade Biotin. I got a #5 capsule maker and capsules. Made nearly 400 capsules today. It's a little tedious and the first hundred was very frustrating. But, got the hang of it, sort of. I can get the #5 capsule to about 70-80 mg, not the 150mg I was expecting. So Kim will take 4 a day. She's going to take 150 twice a day. If that works, I'll get the #3 size when I run out of supplies. Hopefully the larger size will be easier to work with. I think I can get the #3 to be about 150mg if I don't tamper the powder so much. The Biotin is a water soluble vitamin so measuring doesn't need to be so exact. Ken

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:54 pm
by PointsNorth
Good Video. I used this capsule maker for medicinal cannabis. It's cheap and easy, even fun. Buy it on Amazon. Someone said about someone said above that a number five capsule holds 150mg, so 2/day. Can someone send me a link to the best pharmaceutical grade biotin available online.


Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2015 12:37 am
by CureOrBust
PointsNorth wrote:Good Video. I used this capsule maker for medicinal cannabis. It's cheap and easy, even fun. Buy it on Amazon.
I bought this type, as I thought that putting on the end caps on the other one looked a little cumbersome. I went with a machine like the following.

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:10 am
by PointsNorth
Help. How do you get 300 mg of 1% biotin to measure out into milliliter capsule??

PN

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 9:49 am
by tzootsi
PointsNorth wrote:Help. How do you get 300 mg of 1% biotin to measure out into milliliter capsule??

PN
Yikes! Don't use 1%! You'll be taking a ton (99%) of filler. Use PURE biotin.

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 10:34 am
by PointsNorth
OK. Using pure biotin.

I want to spread the 3 mg over 2-3 capsules. I just need to to know how many ml milliliters (volume) that 3 milligrams of pure biotin takes up in ml so I can choose a gelcap size/machine to use.

Thx, PN

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 12:48 pm
by ElliotB
PointsNorth, you need to get a milligram scale and measure out 100 milligrams to get your answer. Scales are inexpensive, many under $30 on Amazon and eBay.

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2015 9:10 pm
by notasperfectasyou
Here are the 4 things I bought:
1) #5 capsule machine on ebay for $95 from skssteve
2) AWS ZEO-50 Milligram Scale Laboratory Balance 50g x 0.001g American Weigh on Amazon for $40
3) Empty Hard Gelatin Capsule Size 5 (Tiny), 1000/bag on Amazon for $37
4) 100g bag of pure biotin from bulksupplements.com for $190

Watching Kim walk up the stairs tonight, alternating steps like non-disabled people do - Priceless.

Putting post here: http://www.thisisms.com/forum/antibioti ... 5-165.html

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 12:14 pm
by oceanbreeze
Hi all,
I don't make capsules but just measure 100 mg on my scale and then sprinkle on food three tomes a day. I don't mind the taste, just a little chalky.
BTW, anyone buying bulk, there is a sale now on Biotin Pure at Bulk Supplements.com. Every little bit helps, right?

OceanBreeze

Re: Can you make your own?

Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 1:15 pm
by Anunymouse
Enter PROLINE as a coupon code, 10% off and 5-7 day shipping is free. That makes about a years worth of 300g doses for about $170, so about $.50/day. Along with a 500g digital scale from ebay for 5.28, 2 water bottles (1 for work and the 2nd when you get home) coupled with some squeeze flavoring and it's a fairly inexpensive route to try the therapy. And I should be drinking more water and less soda at work anyway :)