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Date: | Wed, 21 Feb 2001 23:50:03 EST |
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<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
Excipient Ingredients in Medications
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by Stephen Plogsted, ParmD
Stephen Plogsted is a pharmacist at Children's Hospital in Columbus,
Ohio. At the celiac conference hosted there in November, he provided
the following information about some of the inactive ingredients often
found in medications. [Note: All of these ingredients are
gluten-free unless noted otherwise--ed.]
Benzyl alcohol--made synthetically from benzyl chloride which is
derived from toluene (a tar oil)
Cellulose (methylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose,
microcrystalline)--obtained from fibrous plant material (woody
pulp or chemical cotton)
Cetyl alcohol--derived from a fat source (spermaceti, which is a waxy
substance from the head of the sperm whale)
Croscarmellose sodium--an internally cross-linked sodium
carboxymethylcellulose for use as a disintegrant in pharmaceutical
formulations
Dextrans--sugar molecules
Dextrins--result from the hydrolysis of starch by heat or hydrochloric
acid (from corn)
Dextrates--mix of sugars resulting from the controlled enzymatic
hydrolysis of starch [Might not be gluten-free, depending on which
grain the starch is derived from.--ed]
Gelatin--Obtained from the skin, white connective tissue and bones of
animals (by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, bones, etc with
water)
Glycerin--Historically, glycerin (also known as glycerol), was made
the following ways:
-- Saponification (a type of chemical process) of fats and oils
in the manufacturing of soaps
-- Hydrolysis of fats and oils through pressure and superheated
steam
-- Fermentation of beet sugar molasses in the presence of large
amounts of sodium sulfite
-- Today it is made mostly from propylene (a petroleum product)
Glycerols--obtained from fats and oils as byproducts in the
manufacture of soaps and fatty acids
Glycols--products of ethylene oxide gas
Iron oxide (rust)--used as a coloring agent
Mannitol--derived from monosaccharides
Polysorbates--chemically altered sorbitol (a sugar)
Povidone (crospovidone)--synthetic polymers
Silicon dioxide--dispersing agent made from silicon
Sodium lauryl sulfate--derivative of the fatty acids of coconut oil
Stearates (calcium, magnesium)--derived from stearic acid (a fat);
occurs as a glyceride in tallow and other animal fats and oils, as
well as some vegetables; prepared synthetically by hydrogenation
Titanium dioxide--chemical not derived from any starch source used as
a white pigment
Triacetin--derivative of glycerin (acetylation of glycerol)
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