Excipients

In addition to the active ingredient, drugs and nutritional supplements contain excipients, inactive components that have a variety of roles to play in completing the formulation of a medication. They are often crucial for patient experience, the performance of the medication, and manufacturability.

An excipient may act as a filler or binder, disintegrant, flavoring, colorant, coating agent, or preservative, among other uses. Some common pharmaceutical excipients include lactose (to add bulk), starch (helps tablets maintain their shape), sodium croscarmellose (supports with absorption in the body), and stearic acid (a lubricant in the manufacturing process). Some excipients now on the market are multifunctional, such as with both lubricant and glidant qualities.