Table of Excipients Flashcards
Used in liquid preparations to provide acidic
medium for product stability
Acidifying agent
Acidifying agent
Citric acid
Acetic acid
Fumaric acid
Hydrochloric acid
Nitric acid
Used in liquid preparations to provide alkaline
medium for product stability.
Alkalinizing agent
Alkalinizing agent
Ammonia solution
Ammonium carbonate
Diethanolamine
Monoethanolamine
Potassium hydroxide
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium borate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium hydroxide
Trolamine
An agent capable of holding other molecules
onto its surface by physical or chemical
(chemisorption) means.
Adsorbent
Adsorbent
Powdered cellulose
Activated charcoal
Agent responsible for developing the pressure
within an aerosol container and expelling the
product when the valve is opened.
Aerosol propellant
Aerosol propellant
Carbon dioxide
Dichlorodifluoromethane
Dichlorotetrafluoroethane
Trichloromonofluoromethane
Agent employed to displace air in a hermetically
sealed container to enhance product stability.
Air displacement
Air displacement
Nitrogen
Carbon dioxide
Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to
prevent growth of fungi. Effectiveness of
parabens is usually enhanced by use in
combination.
Antifungal preservative
Antifungal preservative
Butylparaben
Ethylparaben
Methylparaben
Benzoic acid
Propylparaben
Sodium benzoate
Sodium propionate
Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to
prevent growth of microorganisms.
Antimicrobial preservative
Antimicrobial preservative
Benzalkonium chloride
Benzethonium chloride
Benzyl alcohol
Cetylpyridinium chloride
Chlorobutanol
Phenol
Phenylethyl alcohol
Phenylmercuric nitrate
Thimerosal
Used to prevent deterioration of preparations
by oxidation.
Antioxidant
Antioxidant
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbyl palmitate
Butylated hydroxyanisole
Butylated hydroxytoluene
Hypophosphorous acid
Monothioglycerol
Propyl gallate
Sodium ascorbate
Sodium bisulfite
Sodium formaldehyde
Sulfoxylate
Sodium metabisulfite
Used to resist change in pH upon dilution or
addition of acid or alkali.
Buffering agent
Buffering agent
Potassium metaphosphate
Potassium phosphate, monobasic
Sodium acetate
Sodium citrate, anhydrous and dihydrate
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.
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.
Chelating agent
Chelating agent
Edetic acid
Edetate disodium
Used to impart color to liquid and solid (e.g.,
tablets and capsules) preparations,
Colorant
Colorant
FD&C Red No. 3
FD&C Red No. 20
FD&C Yellow No. 6
FD&C Blue No. 2
D&C Green No. 5
D&C Orange No. 5
D&C Red No. 8
Caramel
Ferric oxide, red
Used as a filtering aid for its adsorbent qualities.
Clarifying agent
Clarifying agent
Bentonite
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).
Emulsifying agent
Emulsifying agent
Acacia
Cetomacrogol
Cetyl alcohol
Glyceryl monostearate
Sorbitan monooleate
Polyoxyethylene50 stearate
Used to form thin shells to enclose a drug for
ease of administration.
Encapsulating agent
Encapsulating agent
Gelatin
Cellulose acetate phthalate
Used to impart a pleasant flavor and often odor
to a preparation. In addition to the natural
flavorants listed, many synthetic ones are used.
Flavorant
Flavorant
Anise oil
Cinnamon oil
Cocoa
Menthol
Orange oil
Peppermint oil
Vanillin
Used to prevent drying of preparations,
particularly ointments and creams.
Humectant
Humectant
Glycerin
Propylene glycl
Sorbitol
Liquid used as an intervening agent to reduce
the particle size of a powder by grinding,
usually in a mórtar.
Levigating agent
Levigating agent
Mineral oil
Glycerin
Propylene glycol
Semisolid vehicle for medicated ointments.
Ointment base
Ointment base
Lanolin
Hydrophilic ointment
Polyethylene glycol ointment
Petrolatum
Hydrophilic petrolatum
White ointment
Yellow ointment
Rose water ointment
Component of film-coating solutions to make
film more pliable, enhance spread of coat over tablets, beads, and granules.
Plasticizer
Plasticizer
Diethyl phthalate
Glycerin
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., injection)
Solvent
Solvent
Alcohol
Corn oil
Cottonseed oil
Glycerin
Isopropyl alcohol
Mineral oil
Oleic acid
Peanut oil
Purified water
Water for injection
Sterile water for injection
Sterile water for irrigation
Used to increase thickness or hardness of a
preparation, usually an ointment
Stiffening agent
Stiffening agent
Cetyl alcohol
Cetyl esters wax
Microcrystalline wax
Paraffin
Stearyl alcohol
White wax
Yellow wax
Vehicle for suppositories
Suppository base
Vehicle for suppositories.
Cocoa butter
Polyethylene glycols (mixtures)
Substances that absorb to surfaces or interfaces
to reduce surface or interfacial tension. May
be used as wetting agents, detergents, or
emulsifying agents.
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Benzalkonium chloride
Nonoxynol 10
Octoxynol 9
Polysorbate80
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Sorbitan monopalmitate
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, ophthalmicy
topical, or other route.
Suspending agent
Suspending agent
Agar
Bentonite
Carbomer (e.g., Carbopal)
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium
Hydroxyethyl cellulose
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Hydroxypropylmethyicellulose
Kaolin
Methylcellulose
Tragacanth
Veegum
Used to impart sweetness to a preparation.
Sweetening agent
Sweetening agent
Aspartame
Dextrose
Glycerin
Mannitol
Saccharin sodium
Sorbitol
Sucrose
Prevent tablet ingredients from sticking to
punches and dies during production.
Tablet antiadherents
Tablet antiadherents
Magnesium stearate
Talc
Substances used to cause adhesion of powder
particles in tablet granulations
Tablet binders
Tablet binders
Acacia
Alginic acid
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium
Compressible sugar (e.g., Nu-Tab)
Ethylcellulose
Gelatin
Liquid glucose
Methylcellulose
Povidone
Pregelatinized starch
Inert filler to create desired bulk, flow
properties, and compression characteristics
of tablets and capsules.
Tablet and capsule diluent
Tablet and capsule diluent
Dibasic calcium phosphate
Kaolin.
Lactose
Mannitol
Microcrystalline cellulose
Powdered cellulose
Precipitated calcium carbonate
Sorbitol
Starch
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, film, or
enteric. Sugar coating is water-based; forms a
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,
film 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.
Tablet coating agent
Sugar coating
Liquid glucose
Sucrose
Film coating
Hydroxyethyl cellulose
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose
Methylcellulose (e.g., Methocel)
Ethylcellulose (e.g., Ethocel)
Enteric coating
Cellulose acetate phthalatr
Shellac (35% in alcohol,
pharmaceutical glaze)
Used in direct compression tablet formulations.
Tablet direct compression excipient
Tablet direct compression excipient
Dibasic calcium phosphate
(e.g., Ditab)
Used in solid forms to promote disruption of
the mass into smaller particles more readily
dispersed or dissolved.
Tablet disintegrant
Tablet disintegrant
Alginic acid
Carboxymethylcellulose calcium
Microcrystalline cellulose (e.g., Avicel)
Polacrilin potassium (e.g., Amberlite)
Sodium alginate
Sodium starch glycolate
Starch
Used in tablet and capsule formulations to
improve flow properties of the powder
mixture.
Tablet glidant
Tablet glidant
Colloidal silica
Cornstarch
Tale
Used in tablet formulations to reduce friction
during tablet compression.
Tablet lubricant
Tablet lubricant
Calcium stearate
Magnesium stearate
Mineral oil
Stearic acid
Zinc stearate
Used to render a coating opaque. May be used
alone or with a colorant.
Tablet or capsule opaquant
Tablet or capsule opaquant
Titanium dioxide
Used to impart an attractive sheen to coated
tablets.
Tablet polishing agent
Tablet polishing agent
Carnauba wax
White wax
Used to render solution similar in osmotic
dextrose characteristics to physiologic fluids,
e.g., in ophthalmic, parenteral, and irrigation
fluids.
Tonicity agent
Carrying agent used in formulating a variety of
liquids for oral and parenteral administration.
Generally, oral liquids are aqueous (e.g.,
syrups) or hydroalcoholic (e.g., elixirs).
Solutions for intravenous use are aqueous,
whereas intramuscular injections may be
aqueous or oleaginous
Vehicle
Flavored, sweetened
Acacia syrup
Aromatic syrup
Aromatic elixir
Cherry syrup
Cocoa syrup
Orange syrup
Syrup
Oleaginous
Corn oil
Mineral oil
Peanut oil
Sesame oil
Sterile
Bacteriostatic sodium chloride injection
Bacteriostatic water for injection
Used to render preparations more resistant to
flow. Used in suspensions to deter.
sedimentation, in ophthalmic solutions to
enhance contact time (e.g., methylcellulose),
to thicken topical creams, etc.
Viscosity-increasing agent
Viscosity-increasing agent
Alginic acid
Bentonite
Carbomer
Carboxymethy|cellulose
Sodium
Methylcellulose
Povidone
Sodium alginate
Tragacanth
