Ethylcelluloses
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Ethylcelluloses?
Ethylcellulose is a free-flowing, white to light tan powder used in the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing industries. It is prepared from wood pulp or cotton by treatment with alkali and ethylation of the alkali cellulose with ethyl chloride. Ethylcellulose is used in pharmaceutical industry as a coating agent, flavoring fixative, tablet binder and filler, and as a viscosity-increasing agent. Ethyl cellulose is also used in the food industry as an emulsifier.[1][2]
There is very limited data detailing possible side effects of ethylcellulose; however it is included in the FDA generally regarded as safe (GRAS) Database of Substances (SCOGS) Reviews.[3]
[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] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States. Prepared at the 26th JECFA (1982), published in FNP 25 ( 1982) and FNP. 52 (1992). Accessed March 31, 2012. Ethylcellulose. http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jecfa-additives/specs/Monograph1/Additive-178.pdf
[3] FDA’s SCOGS database; Ethylcellulose; SCOGS-Report Number: 25; http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=365 Accessed March 31, http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=119
Top Medications Containing Ethylcelluloses
- Aricept 23 mg (Eisai Inc.)
- Budeprion XL 150 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Extended Release 15 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Extended Release 10 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Extended Release 5 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended-Release (XR) 240 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended-Release (XR) 180 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Indomethacin SR 75 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Metadate CD 20 mg (UCB Pharma, Inc.)
- Metadate CD 30 mg (UCB Pharma, Inc.)
- Metadate CD 40 mg (UCB Pharma, Inc.)
- Metadate CD 10 mg (UCB Pharma, Inc.)
- Metadate CD 50 mg (UCB Pharma, Inc.)
- Metadate CD 60 mg (UCB Pharma, Inc.)
- Nifedical XL 60 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Nifedical XL 30 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Omeprazole 20 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 40 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Orphenadrine Citrate Extended Release 100 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Potassium Chloride Extended Release 10 mEq (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
