A List of Common Excipients Used in Pharmaceutical Products
(Tablets, Capsules, Suspensions, Syrup and Cream)
List of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Their Uses
- Kaolin: Adsorbent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Lactic Acid: Acidifying agent; acidulant.
- Lactitol: Sweetening agent; tablet and capsule diluent; therapeutic agent.
- Lactose, Anhydrous: Directly compressible tablet excipient; dry powder inhaler carrier; lyophilization aid; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet and capsule filler.
- Lactose, Inhalation: Diluent; dry powder inhaler carrier.
- Lactose, Monohydrate: Dry powder inhaler carrier; lyophilization aid; tablet binder; tablet
- and capsule diluent; tablet and capsule filler.
- Lactose, Monohydrate and Corn Starch: Directly compressible tablet excipient; disintegrant; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Lactose Monohydrate and Microcrystalline Cellulose: Tablet and capsule diluent.
- Lactose Monohydrate and Povidone: Tablet and capsule diluent.
- Lactose Monohydrate and Powdered Cellulose: Tablet and capsule diluent.
- Lactose, Spray-Dried: Directly compressible tablet excipient; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet and capsule filler.
- Lanolin: Emulsifying agent; ointment base.
- Lanolin, Hydrous: Emulsifying agent; ointment base.
- Lanolin Alcohols: Emulsifying agent; ointment base.
- Lauric Acid: Emulsifying agent; food additive; lubricant; surfactant.
- Lecithin: Emollient; emulsifying agent; solubilizing agent.
- Leucine: Antiadherent; flavoring agent; lubricant.
- Linoleic Acid: Dietary supplement; emulsifying agent; skin penetrant.
- Macrogol 15 Hydroxystearate: Dissolution enhancer; nonionic surfactant; solubilizing agent; stabilizing agent.
- Magnesium Aluminum Silicate: Adsorbent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule disintegrant; tablet binder; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Magnesium Carbonate: Adsorbent; antacid; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Magnesium Oxide: Anticaking agent; emulsifying agent; glidant; tablet and capsule diluent.
- Magnesium Silicate: Anticaking agent; glidant.
- Magnesium Stearate: Tablet and capsule lubricant.
- Magnesium Trisilicate: Anticaking agent; glidant; therapeutic agent.
- Maleic Acid: Acidulant; buffering agent.
- Malic Acid: Acidulant; antioxidant; buffering agent; chelating agent; flavoring agent; therapeutic agent.
- Maltitol: Coating agent; diluent; granulation aid; sweetening agent.
- Maltitol Solution: Suspending agent; sweetening agent.
- Maltodextrin: Coating agent; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet binder; viscosity increasing agent.
- Maltol: Flavor enhancer; flavoring agent.
- Maltose: Sweetening agent; tablet diluent.
- Mannitol: Diluent; plasticizer; sweetening agent; tablet and capsule diluent; therapeutic agent; tonicity agent.
- Medium-chain Triglycerides: Emulsifying agent; solvent; suspending agent; therapeutic agent.
- Meglumine: Organic base.
- Menthol: Flavoring agent; therapeutic agent.
- Methionine: Antioxidant; buffering agent; flavoring agent.
- Methylcellulose: Coating agent; emulsifying agent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule disintegrant; tablet binder; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Methylparaben: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Mineral Oil: Emollient; lubricant; oleaginous vehicle; solvent; vaccine adjuvant.
- Mineral Oil, Light: Emollient; oleaginous vehicle; solvent; tablet and capsule lubricant; therapeutic agent.
- Mineral Oil and Lanolin Alcohols: Emollient; emulsifying agent; plasticizer.
- Monoethanolamine: Alkalizing agent; emulsifying agent.
- Monosodium Glutamate: Buffering agent; flavoring agent.
- Monothioglycerol: Antimicrobial preservative; antioxidant.
- Myristic Acid: Emulsifying agent; skin penetrant; tablet and capsule lubricant.
- Myristyl Alcohol: Emollient; emulsion stabilizer; oleaginous vehicle; surfactant; thickening agent; viscosity-controlling agent.
- Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone: Flavor enhancer; sweetening agent.
- Neotame: Flavor enhancer; sweetening agent.
- Nitrogen: Aerosol propellant; air displacement.
- Nitrous Oxide: Aerosol propellant; therapeutic agent.
- Octyldodecanol: Emollient; emulsifying agent; lubricant; solvent; thickening agent.
- Oleic Acid: Emulsifying agent; skin penetrant.
- Oleyl Alcohol: Antifoaming agent; dissolution enhancer; emollient; emulsifying agent; skin penetrant; sustained-release agent.
- Olive Oil: Oleaginous vehicle.
- Palmitic Acid: Emulsifying agent; skin penetrant; tablet and capsule lubricant.
- Paraffin: Ointment base; stiffening agent.
- Peanut Oil: Oleaginous vehicle; solvent.
- Pectin: Adsorbent; emulsifying agent; gelling agent; thickening agent; stabilizing agent.
- Pentetic Acid: Antimicrobial preservative; chelating agent; sequestering agent; stabilizing agent.
- Petrolatum: Emollient; ointment base.
- Petrolatum and Lanolin Alcohols: Emollient; ointment base; plasticizer.
- Phenol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant.
- Phenoxyethanol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant.
- Phenylethyl Alcohol: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Phenylmercuric Acetate: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic.
- Phenylmercuric Borate: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic.
- Phenylmercuric Nitrate: Antimicrobial preservative; antiseptic.
- Phospholipids: Anionic surfactant; biodegradable material; cationic surfactant; dispersing agent; emulsifying agent; emulsion stabilizer; membraneforming agent; nonionic surfactant; solubilizing agent; suspending agent; wetting agent
- Phosphoric Acid: Acidifying agent.
- Polacrilin Potassium: Tablet and capsule disintegrant.
- Poloxamer: Dispersing agent; emulsifying agent; solubilizing agent; tablet lubricant; wetting agent.
- Polycarbophil: Adsorbent; bioadhesive material; controlled-release agent; emulsifying agent; suspending agent; tablet binder; thickening agent.
- Polydextrose: Coating agent; diluent; granulation aid; humectant; tablet and capsule diluent; tablet binder; tablet filler; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Poly(DL-Lactic Acid): Biodegradable material; coating agent; controlled-release agent.
- Polyethylene Glycol: Ointment base; plasticizer; solvent; suppository base; tablet and capsule lubricant.
- Polyethylene Oxide: Mucoadhesive; coating agent; tablet binder; thickening agent.
- Polymethacrylates: Film-forming agent; tablet binder; tablet diluent.
- Poly(methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride): Bioadhesive material; color dispersant; complexing agent; emulsion stabilizer; film-forming agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ethers: Emulsifying agent; penetration enhancer; solubilizing agent; wetting agent.
- Polyoxyethylene Castor Oil Derivatives: Emulsifying agent; solubilizing agent; wetting agent.
- Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters: Dispersing agent; emulsifying agent; nonionic surfactant; solubilizing agent; suspending agent; wetting agent.
- Polyoxyethylene Stearates: Emulsifying agent; solubilizing agent; wetting agent.
- Polyoxylglycerides: Dissolution enhancer; emulsifying agent; nonionic surfactant; penetration agent; solubilizing agent; sustained-release agent.
- Polyvinyl Acetate Phthalate: Coating agent.
- Polyvinyl Alcohol: Coating agent; lubricant; stabilizing agent; viscosity-increasing agent.
- Potassium Alginate: Emulsifying agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; thickening agent.
- Potassium Alum: Astringent.
- Potassium Benzoate: Antimicrobial preservative; tablet and capsule lubricant.
- Potassium Bicarbonate: Alkalizing agent; therapeutic agent.
- Potassium Chloride: Therapeutic agent; tonicity agent.
- Potassium Citrate: Alkalizing agent; buffering agent; sequestering agent.
- Potassium Hydroxide: Alkalizing agent.
- Potassium Metabisulfite: Antimicrobial preservative; antioxidant
- Potassium Sorbate: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Povidone: Disintegrant; dissolution enhancer; suspending agent; tablet binder.
- Propionic Acid: Acidifying agent; antimicrobial preservative; antioxidant; esterifying agent.
- Propyl Gallate: Antioxidant.
- Propylene Carbonate: Gelling agent; solvent.
- Propylene Glycol: Antimicrobial preservative; disinfectant; humectant; plasticizer; solvent; stabilizing agent; water-miscible cosolvent.
- Propylene Glycol Alginate: Emulsifying agent; foam stabilizer; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; viscosity increasing agent.
- Propylparaben: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Propylparaben Sodium: Antimicrobial preservative.
- Pyrrolidone: Penetration agent; plasticizer; solvent; solubilizing agent.