Carboxymethylcellulose Calcium
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Carboxymethylcellulose Calcium?
Carboxymethylcellulose calcium is the calcium salt of carboxymethylcellulose and is used commonly as an FDA-approved disintegrant in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Disintegrants facilitate the breakup of a tablet in the intestinal tract after oral administration. Without a disintegrant, tablets may not dissolve appropriately and may effect the amount of active ingredient absorbed, thereby decreasing effectiveness. [1]
Polymers of carboxymethylcellulose are also the active ingredient in many over-the-counter dry-eye or "natural tears" products, such as Refresh Tears or TheraTears Lubricant Eye Drops.
According to the FDA Select Committee on GRAS food substances, carboxymethylcellulose salts are virtually unabsorbed. Carboxymethylcellulose sodium is generally regarded as safe when used in normal quantities, and the same could be expected with the calcium salt. [2]
[1] Dave RH. Overview of pharmaceutical excipients used in tablets and capsules. Drug Topics (online). Advanstar. 10/24/2008 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Top+News/Overview-of-pharmaceutical-excipients-used-in-tabl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/561047. Accessed 08/19/2011
[2] FDA’s SCOGS database; corn starch, Report No. 977050-51-3, 1979.; ID Code: 72; http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=72 Accessed October 17, 2011
Top Medications Containing Carboxymethylcellulose Calcium
- Actos 30 mg (Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.)
- Actos 45 mg (Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.)
- Actos 15 mg (Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.)
- Atacand 16 mg (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals)
- Atacand 32 mg (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals)
- Atacand 8 mg (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals)
- Atacand HCT 16 mg / 12.5 mg (Merck & Company Inc.)
- Cefdinir 300 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Cefdinir 300 mg (Aurobindo Pharma)
- Cefdinir 300 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Cefdinir 300 mg (Northstar Rx LLC)
- Cefpodoxime Proxetil 200 mg (Aurobindo Pharma)
- Cilostazol 100 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Cilostazol 100 mg (Corepharma LLC)
- Omnicef 300 mg (Abbott Laboratories)
- Pletal 100 mg (Otsuka American Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Savella milnacipran 50 mg (Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Cypress Bioscience, Inc.)
- Savella milnacipran 25 mg (Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Savella milnacipran 12.5 mg (Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Cypress Bioscience, Inc.)
- Savella milnacipran 100 mg (Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Cypress Bioscience, Inc.)
