A List of Common Excipients Used in Pharmaceutical Products
(Tablets, Capsules, Suspensions, Syrup and Cream)
List of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Their Uses
- Acacia: Emulsifying agent (10-20%); stabilizing agent; suspending agent (5-10%); tablet binder (1-5%); viscosity-increasing agent.
- Acesulfame Potassium: Sweetening agent.
- Acetic Acid, Glacial: Acidifying agent.
- Acetone: Solvent.
- Acetyltributyl Citrate: Plasticizer.
- Acetyltriethyl Citrate: Plasticizer.
- Adipic Acid: Acidifying agent; buffering agent; flavoring agent.
- Agar: Emulsifying agent; stabilizing agent; suppository base; suspending agent; sustained-release agent; tablet binder; thickening agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Albumin: Stabilizing agent; therapeutic agent.
- Alcohol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant; skin penetrant; solvent.
- Alginic Acid: Release-modifying agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; sustained release agent; tablet binder; tablet disintegrant; tastemasking agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Aliphatic Polyesters: Bioabsorbable material; biocompatible material; biodegradable material.
- Alitame: Sweetening agent.
- Almond Oil: Emollient; oleaginous vehicle; solvent.
- Alpha Tocopherol: Antioxidant; therapeutic agent.
- Aluminum Hydroxide Adjuvant: Adsorbent; vaccine adjuvant.
- Aluminum Monostearate: Emollient; emulsion stabilizer; gelling agent; opacifier; stabilizing agent.
- Aluminum Oxide: Adsorbent; dispersing agent.
- Aluminum Phosphate Adjuvant: Adsorbent; vaccine adjuvant.
- Ammonia Solution: Alkalizing agent.
- Ammonium Alginate: Diluent; emulsifying agent; film-forming agent; humectant; stabilizing agent; thickening agent.
- Ammonium Chloride: Acidifying agent; therapeutic agent.
- Ascorbic Acid: Antioxidant; therapeutic agent.
- Ascorbyl Palmitate: Antioxidant.
- Aspartame: Sweetening agent.
- Attapulgite: Adsorbent.
- Bentonite: Adsorbent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; viscosity increasing agent.
- Benzalkonium Chloride: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic; disinfectant; solubilizing agent; wetting agent.
- Benzethonium Chloride: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic; disinfectant.
- Benzoic Acid: Antimicrobial preservative; therapeutic agent.
- Benzyl Alcohol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant; solvent.
- Benzyl Benzoate: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Boric Acid: Antimicrobial preservative; buffering agent.
- Bronopol: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic.
- Butylated Hydroxyanisole: Antioxidant.
- Butylated Hydroxytoluene: Antioxidant.
- Butylene Glycol: Antimicrobial preservative; humectant; solvent; water-miscible cosolvent.
- Butylparaben: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Calcium Acetate: Antimicrobial preservative; sequestering agent; therapeutic agent.
- Calcium Alginate: Emulsifying agent; stabilizing agent; tablet disintegrant; thickening agent.
- Calcium Carbonate: Buffering agent; coating agent; colorant; opacifier; tablet binder; tablet and capsule diluent; therapeutic agent.
- Calcium Chloride: Antimicrobial preservative; therapeutic agent; water-absorbing agent.
- Calcium Hydroxide: Alkalizing agent; astringent; therapeutic agent.
- Calcium Lactate: Antimicrobial preservative; buffering agent; crosslinking agent; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet binder; tablet filler; therapeutic agent; thickening agent.
- Calcium Phosphate, Dibasic Anhydrous: Practically insoluble in ether, ethanol, and water; soluble in dilute acids.
- Calcium Phosphate, Dibasic Dihydrate: Practically insoluble in ethanol, ether, and water; soluble in dilute acids.
- Calcium Phosphate, Tribasic: Anticaking agent; buffering agent; dietary supplement; glidant; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Calcium Silicate: Adsorbent; anticaking agent; opacifier; tablet filler.
- Calcium Stearate: Tablet and capsule lubricant.
- Calcium Sulfate: Desiccant; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Canola Oil: Emollient; lubricant; oleaginous vehicle.
- Carbomer: Bioadhesive material; controlled-release agent; emulsifying agent; emulsion stabilizer; rheology modifier; stabilizing agent.
- Carbon Dioxide: Aerosol propellant; air displacement.
- Carboxymethylcellulose Calcium: Emulsifying agent; coating agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule disintegrant; viscosity-increasing agent; water-absorbing agent.
- Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium: Coating agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule disintegrant; tablet binder; viscosity-increasing agent; water-absorbing agent.
- Carrageenan: Emulsifying agent; gel base; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; sustained-release agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Castor Oil: Emollient; oleaginous vehicle; solvent.
- Castor Oil, Hydrogenated: In topical formulations, hydrogenated castor oil is used to provide stiffness to creams and emulsions. In oral formulations, hydrogenated castor oil is used to prepare sustained-release tablet and capsule preparations; the hydrogenated castor oil may be used as a coat or to form a solid matrix.
- Cellulose, Microcrystalline: Adsorbent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet disintegrate.
- Cellulose, Microcrystalline and Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium: Microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium is used to produce thixotropic gels suitable as suspending vehicles in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. The sodium carboxymethylcellulose aids dispersion and serves as a protective colloid.
- Cellulose, Powdered: Adsorbent; glidant; suspending agent; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet disintegrant; thickening agent.
- Cellulose, Silicified Microcrystalline: Tablet and capsule diluent. It has improved compaction properties in both wet granulation and direct compression compared to conventional microcrystalline cellulose.
- Cellulose Acetate: Coating agent; extended-release agent; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Cellulose Acetate Phthalate: Coating agent.
- Ceratonia: Controlled-release agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; tablet binder; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Ceresin: Coating agent; opacifier; stabilizing agent; stiffening agent.
- Cetostearyl Alcohol: Emollient; emulsifying agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Cetrimide: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic; cationic surfactant; disinfectant.
- Cetyl Alcohol: Coating agent; emulsifying agent; stiffening agent.
- Cetylpyridinium Chloride: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic; cationic surfactant; disinfectant; solubilizing agent; wetting agent.
- Chitosan: Coating agent; disintegrant; film-forming agent; mucoadhesive; tablet binder; viscosity increasing agent.
- Chlorhexidine: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic.
- Chlorobutanol: Antimicrobial preservative; plasticizer.
- Chlorocresol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant.
- Chlorodifluoroethane (HCFC): Aerosol propellant.
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC): Aerosol propellant.
- Chloroxylenol: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic; disinfectant.
- Cholesterol: Emollient; emulsifying agent.
- Citric Acid Monohydrate: Acidifying agent; antioxidant; buffering agent; chelating agent; flavor enhancer; preservative.
- Coconut Oil: Emollient; ointment base.
- Colloidal Silicon Dioxide: Adsorbent; anticaking agent; emulsion stabilizer; glidant; suspending agent; tablet disintegrant; thermal stabilizer; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Coloring Agents: Colorant; opacifier.
- Copovidone: Film-forming agent; granulation aid; tablet binder.
- Corn Oil: Oleaginous vehicle; solvent.
- Corn Starch and Pregelatinized Starch: Binding agent; compression aid; disintegrant; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet and capsule filler.
- Cottonseed Oil: Oleaginous vehicle; solvent.
- Cresol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant.
- Croscarmellose Sodium: Tablet and capsule disintegrant.
- Crospovidone: Tablet disintegrant.
- Cyclodextrins: Solubilizing agent; stabilizing agent.
- Cyclomethicone: Solubilizing agent; stabilizing agent.
- Denatonium Benzoate: Alcohol denaturant; flavoring agent.
- Dextrates: Tablet binder; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Dextrin: Stiffening agent; suspending agent; tablet binder; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Dextrose: Tablet and capsule diluent; therapeutic agent; tonicity agent; sweetening agent.
- Dibutyl Phthalate: Film-forming agent; plasticizer; solvent.
- Dibutyl Sebacate: Plasticizer
- Diethanolamine: Alkalizing agent; emulsifying agent.
- Diethyl Phthalate: Film-forming agent; plasticizer; solvent.
- Difluoroethane (HFC): Aerosol propellant.
- Dimethicone: Antifoaming agent; emollient; water-repelling agent.
- Dimethyl Ether: Aerosol propellant.
- Dimethyl Phthalate: Film-forming agent; plasticizer; solvent.
- Dimethyl Sulfoxide: Penetration agent; solvent.
- Dimethylacetamide: Solvent.
- Disodium Edetate: Chelating agent.
- Docusate Sodium: Anionic surfactant; fecal softener; wetting agent.
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