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Whether they're prescription or over-the-counter, medications are made of both active and inactive ingredients. So, what are these components, what's the difference between active and inactive ingredients, and what does ‘inactive ingredient' mean, exactly? Keep reading below to learn more!
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As previously mentioned, both active and inactive ingredients come together to form any medication.
The difference between active and inactive ingredients lies in the roles they each play in making up a drug.
The active ingredient, otherwise known as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is the portion of a drug that has therapeutic effects on the body. In other words, it's the chemical compound that's responsible for making you feel better!
On the other hand, inactive ingredients (or excipients) are the non-medicinal components of the drug. These ingredients don't have any pharmacological effects on the body.
Although inactive ingredients don't have any therapeutic effect on the body, they are important and necessary components of most drugs.
So, what does ‘inactive ingredient' mean and why are they so important?
To put it simply, medications aren't solely made of medicinal ingredients. That's where inactive ingredients come in. They are the additional components that make up the rest of the drug which don't have an effect on the body.
These ingredients are important because they may be used for a number of reasons. Here are some reasons why active ingredients may be used when formulating a drug:
With this in mind, these non-medicinal ingredients are also responsible for a drug's shape, size, or colour.
Inactive ingredients can also typically make up the bulk of a drug. According to Katdare and Chaubal, "the total amount of excipients frequently used is greater than the amount of the active drug substance in a dosage form."
While inactive ingredients don't have any effect on the body for the most part, certain types can also be considered active under certain circumstances.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alcohol is one such ingredient. Depending on the product formulation, it can either be considered active or inactive.
For the most part, inactive ingredients are harmless. However, if you have allergies to soy, dairy, gluten, and more, it's important to check the label for any signs of these ingredients.
Furthermore, all inactive ingredients in medications are approved by the FDA and are considered "GRAS" or "generally recognized as safe." This also applies for generic versions of medications. However, the inactive ingredients in generics may not always be the same as the brand name version.
Overall, inactive ingredients are necessary components for any medication. They not only play an important role in drug composition, they can help with absorption, delivery, and much more!
If you're concerned about allergies, be sure to always look at the inactive ingredients list on the label. If you're unsure, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist as well.
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