Alcohol
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Alcohol?
There are four types of alcohol: methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol and butyl alcohol. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol (C2H5OH), is the type used in the production of alcoholic beverages. The other three types, methyl, propyl and butyl alcohol, if consumed can result in blindness and death, even in relatively small doses.
Alcohol, (C2H6O), also known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is the intoxicating agent found in beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is produced by fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches. Fruits such as grapes, and grains like barley and wheat are most commonly used for wine, beer and liquors. Other plants, such as the cactus or sugar cane may be used in liquor production.[1] Alcohol is used as a solvent and vehicle in a variety of medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Alcohol is used in the pharmaceutical industry in a variety of manufacturing processes. It has bactericidal activity and is often used as a topical disinfectant, especially in alcohol gel for hands. It is also widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations.[2]
[1] Drugs.com. Alcohol. Accessed 8/17/2012. http://www.drugs.com/alcohol.html
[2] National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compund. Ethanol. http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=702&loc=ec_rcs
Top Medications Containing Alcohol
- Allopurinol 300 mg (Northstar Rx LLC)
- Allopurinol 100 mg (Northstar Rx LLC)
- Aspirin, Butalbital and Caffeine 325 mg / 50 mg / 40 mg (Lannett Company, Inc.)
- Budeprion XL 150 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Calcium Acetate 667 mg (Roxane Laboratories, Inc.)
- Flomax 0.4 mg (Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Lithium Carbonate 300 mg (Glenmark Generics Inc.)
- Omeprazole 20 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 20 mg (Kremers Urban)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 20 mg (Apotex Corp.)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 40 mg (Kremers Urban)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 40 mg (Apotex Corp.)
- Pantoprazole Sodium Delayed Release 40 mg (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc.)
- Phentermine Hydrochloride 30 mg (Lannett Company, Inc.)
- Phentermine Hydrochloride 30 mg (Lannett Company, Inc.)
- Phentermine Hydrochloride 30 mg (Lannett Company, Inc.)
- Pradaxa 150 mg (Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Tamsulosin Hydrochloride 0.4 mg (Actavis)
- Tamsulosin Hydrochloride 0.4 mg (Global Pharmaceuticals)
- TussiCaps 8 mg / 10 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
