Excipients

Question 1

Acidifying agent

Answer 1

1.) Citric acid

Used in liquid preparations to provide acidic medium for product stability

Question 2

Alkalinizing agent

Answer 2

1.) Ammonia solution

Used in liquid preparations to provide alkaline medium for product stability

Question 3

Adsorbent

Answer 3

1.) Powdered Cellulose

An agent capable of holding other molecules onto its surface by physical or chemical (chemisorption) means

Question 4

Aerosol propellant

Answer 4

1.) Carbon dioxide

Agent responsible for developing the pressure within an aerosol container and expelling the product when the valve is opened

Question 5

Air displacement

Answer 5

1.) Nitrogen

Agent employed to displace air in a hermetically sealed container to enhance product stability

Question 6

Antifungal preservative

Answer 6

1.) Butylparabens

Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent growth of fungi. Effectiveness of parabens is usually enhanced by use in combination

Question 7

Antimicrobial preservative

Answer 7

1.) Benzalkonium chloride

Used in liquid and semisolid preparations to prevent growth of microorganisms

Question 8

Antioxidant

Answer 8

1.) Ascorbic acid

Used to prevent deterioration of preparations by oxidation

Question 9

Buffering agent

Answer 9

1.) Potassium metaphosphate

Used to resist change in pH upon dilution or addition of acid or alkali

Question 10

Chelating agent

Answer 10

1.) Edetic acid

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

Question 11

Colorant

Answer 11

1.) FD&C Red No. 3

Used to impart color to liquid and solid (e.g., tablets and capsules) preparations.

Question 12

Clarifying agent

Answer 12

1.) Bentonite

Used as a filtering aid for its adsorbent qualities

Question 13

Emulsifying agent

Answer 13

1.) Acacia

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)

Question 14

Encapsulating agent

Answer 14

1.) Gelatin

Used to form thin shells to enclose a drug for ease of administration

Question 15

Flavorant

Answer 15

1.) Anise oil

Used to impart a pleasant flavor and often odor to a preparation. In addition to the natural flavorants listed, many synthetic ones are used

Question 16

Humectant

Answer 16

1.) Glycerin

Used to prevent drying of preparations, particularly ointments and creams

Question 17

Levigating agent

Answer 17

1.) Mineral oil

Liquid used as an intervening agent to reduce the particle size of a powder by grinding, usually in a mortar

Question 18

Ointment base

Answer 18

1.) Lanolin

Semisolid vehicle for medicated ointments

Question 19

Plasticizer

Answer 19

1.) Diethyl phthalate

Component of film-coating solutions to make film more pliable, enhance spread of coat over tablets, beads, and granules

Question 20

Solvent

Answer 20

1.) Alcohol

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)

Question 21

Stiffening agent

Answer 21

1.) Cetyl alcohol

Used to increase thickness or hardness of a preparation, usually an ointment

Question 22

Suppository base

Answer 22

1.) Cocoa butter

Vehicle for suppositories

Question 23

Surfactant (surface active agent)

Answer 23

1.) Benzalkonium chloride

Substances that absorb to surfaces or interfaces to reduce surface or interfacial tension. May be used as wetting agents, detergents, or emulsifying agents

Question 24

Suspending agent

Answer 24

1.) Agar

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

Question 25

Sweetening agent

Answer 25

1.) Aspartame Used to impart sweetness to a preparation

Question 26

Tablet antiadherents

Answer 26

1.) Magnesium stearate Prevent tablet ingredients from sticking to punches and dies during production

Question 27

Tablet binders

Answer 27

1.) Acacia Substances used to cause adhesion of powder particles in tablet granulations

Question 28

Tablet and capsule diluent

Answer 28

1.) Dibasic calcium phosphate Inert filler to create desired bulk, flow properties, and compression characteristics of tablets and capsules

Question 29

Sugar coating

Answer 29

1.) Liquid glucose

Question 30

Film coating

Answer 30

1.) Hydroxyethyl cellulose

Question 31

Enteric coating

Answer 31

1.) Cellulose acetate phthalate

Question 32

Tablet direct compression excipient

Answer 32

1.) Dibasic calcium phosphate Used in direct compression tablet formulations

Question 33

Tablet disintegrant

Answer 33

1.) Alginic acid Used in solid forms to promote disruption of the mass into smaller particles more readily dispersed or dissolved

Question 34

Tablet glidant

Answer 34

1.) Colloidal silica Used in tablet and capsule formulations to improve flow properties of the powder mixture

Question 35

Tablet lubicrant

Answer 35

1.) Calcium stearate Used in tablet formulations to reduce friction during tablet compression

Question 36

Tablet or Capsule opaquant

Answer 36

1.) Titanium dioxide Used to render a coating opaque. May be used alone or with a colorant

Question 37

Tablet polishing agent

Answer 37

1.) Carnauba wax Used to impart an attractive sheen to coated tablets

Question 38

Tonicity agent

Answer 38

1.) Sodium chloride Used to render solution similar in osmotic-dextrose characteristics to physiologic fluids, e.g., in ophthalmic, parenteral, and irrigation fluids

Question 39

Flavored, sweetened

Answer 39

1.) Acacia syrup

Question 40

Oleaginous

Answer 40

1.) Corn oil

Question 41

Sterile

Answer 41

1.) Bacteriostatic sodium chloride injection

Question 42

Viscosity-increasing agent

Answer 42

1.) Alginic acid 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.

Question 43

Vehicle

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Tablet coating agent

Answer 44

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 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.