An apparatus for capturing and holding a solid compact medicament, such as a caplet, has first, second and third members each having a surface having at least one throughole therein. Througholes have a diameter somewhat greater than the thickness of the solid compact medicament and the interior wall of the througholes 1as an axial length smaller than the length of the solid compact medicament. First and third members are fixed relative to one another. Second member is displaceable between first and third members between a first position wherein the througholes in members are aligned thereby defining an open gripping jaw for receiving and subsequently releasing the solid compact medicament, to a second position wherein the second member firmly engages a circumferential portion of solid compact medicament thereby engagingly capturing solid compact medicament in partially closed gripping jaw for processing.