When you pick up a prescription or over-the-counter medication, you probably focus on the active ingredient. This is the substance that treats your condition. However, most medicines also contain inactive ingredients, known as excipients, which can affect safety, tolerability, and even effectiveness for some patients.
What Are Excipients?
Excipients are substances added to medicines for reasons other than treating illness. They may be used to:
- Improve taste or appearance
- Stabilise the drug for longer shelf life
- Aid in the manufacturing process
- Control how the drug is released in the body
Common examples include lactose, gelatin, titanium dioxide, and various artificial colorants.
Potential Concerns
While many excipients are considered safe, some can cause allergic reactions or digestive discomfort. For example:
- Lactose can be problematic for individuals with lactose intolerance.
- Gelatin may not be acceptable for those following vegetarian or certain religious dietary restrictions.
Artificial colorants have been linked to sensitivities in some people.
Regulations and Labeling
Different countries have different requirements for listing inactive ingredients. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both require clear labelling, but the level of detail can vary. Patients often have to read packaging carefully or request information from pharmacists to identify all excipients.
The Clean Label Movement
There is growing interest in “clean label” medicines, where manufacturers avoid unnecessary additives and prioritise transparency. While this trend is more established in the food industry, it is slowly gaining attention in pharmaceuticals.
How Medistiq Promotes Health Transparency
Clear, accessible communication is key to helping patients make informed decisions about their medications. At Medistiq, we create patient-friendly articles, leaflets, and website content that explain medical information without jargon, helping healthcare brands build trust.
Need content that educates and empowers patients? Talk to Medistiq about creating transparent, reliable healthcare materials.
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