Excipients are essential components of most medicines, even though they are not the active ingredients responsible for the intended therapeutic effect. This lesson introduces their purposes, explains why they are not always completely inactive, and describes how formulation choices are made.
An excipient is a substance formulated alongside a medication’s active ingredient. It can support the active ingredient’s delivery, stability, or manufacture without being the intended therapeutic agent itself.
All flashcards
What is an excipient?
A substance formulated alongside a medication’s active ingredient to support delivery, stability, physical properties, or manufacture rather than provide the intended therapeutic effect.
Why use an excipient-controlled study?
Including the excipient or vehicle in the control helps account for its possible effects and isolate the active ingredient’s effect.
What does a lubricant do in tablet manufacture?
It reduces friction between the tablet and die wall during ejection and may also help prevent sticking to punches or equipment.
What is the role of a disintegrant?
It helps a tablet break apart upon contact with water, releasing the active ingredient and facilitating dissolution.
What is a vaccine adjuvant?
A substance added to a vaccine to enhance or modify the immune response.
Quiz questions
Why might researchers include an excipient or vehicle in a study’s control substance?Answer: To account for possible formulation effects and better isolate the active ingredient’s effect.
What is the main function of a glidant in a powder formulation?Answer: It improves powder flow by reducing interparticle friction and cohesion.
What can excessive or prolonged lubricant blending do to tablets?Answer: It can delay dissolution and produce softer tablets.
Which is a purpose of a tablet coating?Answer: It can protect ingredients from moisture or make an unpleasant-tasting tablet easier to swallow.
What is the purpose of adding an adjuvant to a vaccine?Answer: To enhance or modify the immune response.
Based on the Wikipedia article Excipient, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.