Excipient
Excipient is a substance added to a pharmaceutical product to serve specific purposes. These purposes can include improving the manufacturing process, protecting, supporting or enhancing stability, or for bioavailability or patient acceptability. They are also used to assist in product identification and enhance any other attribute of the overall safety and effectiveness of the drug during storage or use.
Types of Excipients[edit | edit source]
Excipients can be classified into the following categories:
- Diluents: These are fillers used to make the required bulk of a tablet when the drug dosage itself is very small. Examples include lactose, calcium phosphate, and sorbitol.
- Binders: These are substances that are added to tablet formulations to add cohesiveness to the powder mix and provide the necessary bonding to form a compact mass. Examples include acacia, starch paste, and gelatin.
- Disintegrants: These are added to a tablet formulation to facilitate its breaking or disintegration when it comes in contact with water in the GIT. Examples include starch, cellulose, alginate, and certain complex silicates.
- Lubricants: These are substances added in small quantities to tablet and capsule formulations to improve certain processing characteristics. Examples include magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, and stearic acid.
Role of Excipients[edit | edit source]
Excipients play a crucial role in the manufacturing process, the stability, the effectiveness, and the delivery of the active ingredients of a drug. They can ensure that the drug is delivered to the appropriate part of the body, at the right speed, and in the right amounts. They can also ensure that the drug is stable and effective for the duration of its shelf life.
Safety of Excipients[edit | edit source]
The safety of excipients is evaluated by the International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These organizations have established guidelines for the testing and use of excipients.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Excipient Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
