Cellulose Powdered
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Cellulose Powdered?
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.
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, or suspending agent among other uses. According to the Select Committee on GRAS Substances, cellulose 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. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5066975
Top Medications Containing Cellulose Powdered
- Acetaminophen and Tramadol Hydrochloride 325 mg / 37.5 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Alprazolam 0.5 mg (Greenstone Limited)
- Alprazolam 1 mg (Greenstone Limited)
- Alprazolam 2 mg (Greenstone Limited)
- Alprazolam 0.25 mg (Greenstone Limited)
- Effexor XR 75 mg (Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories)
- Effexor XR 150 mg (Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories)
- Fexofenadine Hydrochloride 180 mg (Major Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene 25 mg / 37.5 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Indomethacin 50 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Indomethacin 25 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Temazepam 30 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Temazepam 15 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Tylenol Arthritis Pain 650 mg (McNeil Consumer)
- Tylenol with Codeine #3 300 mg / 30 mg (Janssen Pharmaceuticals)
- Ultracet 325 mg / 37.5 mg (Janssen Pharmaceuticals)
- Xanax 2 mg (Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group)
- Xanax 1 mg (Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group)
- Xanax 0.5 mg (Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group)
- Xanax 0.25 mg (Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group)
