Cellulose Acetate
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Cellulose Acetate?
Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is refined wood pulp. It is a white, free-flowing powder. Chemically, it is an inert substance, is not degraded during digestion and has no appreciable absorption. In large quantities it provides dietary bulk and may lead to a laxative effect.
Microcrystalline cellulose is a commonly used excipient in the pharmaceutical industry. It has excellent compressibility properties and is used in solid dose forms, such as tablets. Tablets can be formed that are hard, but dissolve quickly. Microcrystalline cellulose is the same as cellulose, except that it meets USP standards.[1]
It is also found in many processed food products, and may be used as an anti-caking agent, stabilizer, texture modifier, packaging component, or suspending agent among other uses. According to the Select Committee on GRAS Substances, cellulose acetate is generally regarded as safe when used in normal quantities. [2][3][4]
[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; Microcrystalline cellulose, Report No. 25, 1979.; ID Code: 9004-57-3; Accessed July 28, 2011.
[3] Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Corporate Document Repository. Compendium of Food Additive Specifications, Addendum 5. Microcrystalline cellulose. http://www.fao.org/docrep/W6355E/w6355e0l.htm Accessed July 28, 2011
[4] US Dept of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Cellulose processing. Executive Summary. Accessed 7/28/2011.
Top Medications Containing Cellulose Acetate
- Allegra 60 mg (Sanofi-Aventis)
- Allegra-D 24 Hour 180 mg / 240 mg (Sanofi-Aventis)
- Concerta 36 mg (ALZA Corporation)
- Concerta 54 mg (ALZA Corporation)
- Concerta 18 mg (ALZA Corporation)
- Concerta 27 mg (ALZA Corporation)
- Exalgo 12 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Exalgo 8 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Exalgo 16 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Glipizide XL 10 mg (Greenstone Limited)
- Invega 6 mg (Janssen Pharmaceuticals)
- Invega 3 mg (Janssen Pharmaceuticals)
- Nifedipine ER 30 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Nifedipine Extended-Release 30 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Nifedipine Extended-Release 60 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Oxybutynin Chloride Extended-Release 10 mg (Kremers Urban)
- Oxybutynin Chloride Extended-Release 5 mg (Kremers Urban)
- Oxybutynin Chloride Extended-Release 15 mg (Kremers Urban)
- Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended Release 75 mg (Upstate Pharma LLC)
- Venlafaxine Hydrochloride Extended Release 150 mg (Upstate Pharma LLC)
