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What else is in the tablet?What else is in the tablet?
Medicinal tablets, capsules, mixtures and creams usually contain a variety of substances in addition to the medicine itself. The additional substances are known as excipients or fillers.
Excipients have many purposes. Often, they bind the medicine together so it can be picked up and swallowed. Sometimes, they increase the stability of the medicine so it can be stored for months or years. Sometimes, they form pleasant-tasting coating that hides the medicine’s offensive taste.
Most excipients in tablets and capsules are ordinary substances like starch, lactose, sugar and talc that almost everybody can ingest without ill effects. Therefore, most people are not concerned about them. However, people who are allergic or very sensitive to certain substances, or who must avoid certain products for ethical or religious reasons need to know about the excipients in their medicines.
Every Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet (where available) includes a comprehensive list of excipients. If you may need to know about the excipients in your medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist to check the CMI leaflet when they prescribe or dispense the medicine for you.
In most cases, the information provided in the CMI leaflet will be adequate. However, occasionally, it may be ambiguous. For example, ‘gluten free’ may mean that the tablet contains no gluten containing starches such as wheat, rye or barley, or it may mean that the wheat starch in the tablet has been deglutinated (>95% of the gluten removed). Such information is important for people with severe gluten intolerance. Similarly, the CMI leaflet may not say whether the gelatin capsule comes from pork or beef, which is important information for Jewish and Muslim people who want to avoid even traces of pork products.
If the CMI leaflet does not provide enough information or the medicine does not have a CMI leaflet, seek the information from your pharmacist or doctor, Medicines Line (1300 633 424), or the medicine’s manufacturer.
MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter for consumers written by consumers about using medicines wisely. Subscribe to the hard copy version using our online ordering system, or write to MedicinesTalk, National Prescribing Service Limited, PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.
Date published: 2004-06-01 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
