Excipients Flashcards
INGREDIENT TYPE
Acidifying agent
Used in liquid preparations to provide acidic medium
for product stability
- *1) Citric acid
2) Acetic acid
3) Fumaric acid**
Alkalinizing agent
Used in liquid preparations to provide alkaline medium
for product stability
- Ammonia solution
- Ammonium carbonate
- Diethanolamine
**Adsorbent **
An agent capable of holding other molecules onto its
surface by physical or chemical (chemisorption) means
- Powdered cellulose
- Activated charcoal
**Aerosol propellant **
Agent responsible for developing the pressure within
an aerosol container and expelling the product when
the valve is opened
- Carbon dioxide
- Dichlorodifl uoromethane
- Dichlorotetrafl uoroethane
Air displacement
Agent employed to displace air in a hermetically sealed
container to enhance product stability
- Nitrogen
- Carbon dioxide
**Antifungal preservative **
Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent
growth of fungi. Effectiveness of parabens is usually
enhanced by use in combination
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Methylparaben
Antimicrobial preservative
** Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent
growth of microorganisms**
- Benzalkonium chloride
Antioxidant
Used to prevent deterioration of preparations by oxidation
- Ascorbic acid
- Ascorbyl palmitate
- Butylated hydroxyanisole
Buffering agent
Used to resist change in pH upon dilution or addition
of acid or alkali
- Potassium metaphosphate
- Potassium phosphate,
- monobasic
**Chelating agent **
Substance that forms stable water-soluble complexes (chelates) with metals; used in some liquid pharmaceuticals as stabilizers to complex heavy metals that might promote instability. In such use, they are also called sequestering agents
- Edetic acid
- Edetate disodium
Colorant
Used to impart color to liquid and solid (e.g., tablets
and capsules) preparations
- FD&C Red No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 20
- FD&C Yellow No. 6
Clarifying agent
Used as a filtering aid for its adsorbent qualities
- Bentonite
Emulsifying agent
Used to promote and maintain dispersion of finely subdivided particles of liquid in a vehicle in which it is immiscible. End product may be a liquid emulsion or semisolid emulsion (e.g., a cream)
- Acacia
- Cetomacrogol
- Cetyl alcohol
Encapsulating agent
Used to form thin shells to enclose a drug for ease of administration
- Gelatin
**Flavorant **
Used to impart a pleasant flavor and often odor to a preparation. In addition to the natural flavorants listed, many synthetic ones are used
- Anise oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Cocoa
Humectant
Used to prevent drying of preparations, particularly ointments
and creams
- Glycerin
- Propylene glycol
- Sorbitol
**Levigating agent **
Liquid used as an intervening agent to reduce the particle size of a powder by grinding, usually in a mortar
- Mineral oil
- Glycerin
- Propylene glycol
Ointment base
Semisolid vehicle for medicated ointments
- Lanolin
- Hydrophilic ointment
- Polyethylene glycol ointment
Plasticizer
Component of fi lm-coating solutions to make fi lm more pliable,
enhance spread of coat over tablets, beads, and granules
- Diethyl phthalate
- Glycerin
Solvent
Used to dissolve another substance in preparation of a solution; may be aqueous or not (e.g., oleaginous). Cosolvents, such as water and alcohol (hydroalcoholic) and water and glycerin, may be used when needed. Sterile solvents are used in certain preparations (e.g., injections)
- Alcohol
- Corn oil
- Cottonseed oil
Stiffening agent
Used to increase thickness or hardness of a preparation, usually an ointment
- Cetyl alcohol
- Cetyl esters wax
- Microcrystalline wax
Suppository base
Vehicle for suppositories
- Cocoa butter
- Polyethylene glycols (mixtures)
- PEG 3350
Surfactant (surface
active agent)
Substances that absorb to surfaces or interfaces to
reduce surface or interfacial tension. May be used
as wetting agents, detergents, or emulsifying agents
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Nonoxynol 10
- Octoxynol 9
Suspending agent
Viscosity-increasing agent used to reduce sedimentation
rate of particles in a vehicle in which they are
not soluble; suspension may be formulated for oral,
parenteral, ophthalmic, topical, or other route
- Agar
- Bentonite
- Carbomer (e.g., Carbopol)
Sweetening agent
Used to impart sweetness to a preparation
- Aspartame
- Dextrose
- Glycerin
Tablet antiadherents
** Prevent tablet ingredients from sticking to punches
and dies during production**
- Magnesium stearate
Tablet binders
Substances used to cause adhesion of powder
particles in tablet granulations
- Acacia
- Alginic acid
- Carboxymethylcellulose sodium
Tablet and capsule
diluent
Inert fi ller to create desired bulk, fl ow properties,
and compression characteristics of tablets and
capsules
- Dibasic calcium phosphate
- Kaolin
- Lactose
Tablet coating agent
Used to coat a tablet to protect against decomposition
by atmospheric oxygen or humidity, to provide a desired
release pattern, to mask taste or odor, or for aesthetic
purposes. Coating may be sugar, fi lm, or thick covering
around a tablet. Sugar-coated tablets generally start to
break up in the stomach. Film forms a thin cover
around a formed tablet or bead. Unless it is enteric, fi lm
dissolves in the stomach. Enteric coating passes through
the stomach to break up in the intestines. Some
water-insoluble coatings (e.g., ethylcellulose) are used
to slow the release of drug in the gastrointestinal tract
Sugar coating
- Liquid glucose
- Sucrose
Film coating
- Hydroxyethyl cellulose
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Enteric coating
- ** Cellulose acetate phthalate**
- Shellac (35% in alcohol,
- pharmaceutical glaze)
Tablet direct compression
excipient
Used in direct compression tablet formulations
- Dibasic calcium phosphate
(e.g., Ditab)
Tablet disintegrant
Used in solid forms to promote disruption of the mass
into smaller particles more readily dispersed or
dissolved
- Alginic acid
- Polacrilin potassium (e.g., Amberlite)
- Sodium alginate
Tablet glidant
Used in tablet and capsule formulations to improve fl ow
properties of the powder mixture
- Colloidal silica
- Cornstarch
- Talc