Mannitol
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Mannitol?
Mannitol is a polyol (sugar alcohol) and an isomer of sorbitol. Mannitol (C6H8(OH)6) is used in pharmaceutical products as a sweeting agent, tablet and capsule diluent, excipient for chewable tablets, a tonicity agent, and as a vehicle (bulking agent) for lyophilized preparations. Mannitol is industrially derived from the sugar fructose, and is roughly half as sweet as sucrose. Mannitol has a cooling effect often used to mask bitter tastes, and may be used in gums and candies. Mannitol is also found naturally in many species, including plants, bacteria, and fungi.[1]
Excessive consumption of mannitol may lead to a laxative effect, but the small amount used in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes would not normally pose this risk. Mannitol is deemed a safe food ingredient. Mannitol does not lead to elevated levels of blood sugar, as glucose may, and may be used in the food industry as a sweetener for patients with diabetes. Mannitol contains 1.6 calories per gram. On prescription status, mannitol is used as an intravenous osmotic diuretic and works by increasing the amount of fluid excreted by the body. [1][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] Polyols Information Source. Facts about polyols. Mannitol. Accessed October 24, 2011. http://www.polyol.org/index.html
Top Medications Containing Mannitol
- Buprenorphine Hydrochloride (Sublingual) 8 mg (Roxane Laboratories, Inc.)
- Buprenorphine Hydrochloride (Sublingual) 8 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Gabapentin 300 mg (Actavis Elizabeth LLC)
- Gabapentin 300 mg (InvaGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Hydrochlorothiazide and Lisinopril 12.5 mg / 20 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Levothyroxine Sodium 50 mcg (0.05 mg) (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Levothyroxine Sodium 100 mcg (0.1 mg) (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Lisinopril 10 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Lisinopril 20 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Lisinopril 5 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Lisinopril 20 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Lisinopril 40 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Lisinopril 10 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Metoclopramide Hydrochloride 10 mg (Actavis)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 20 mg (Apotex Corp.)
- Omeprazole Delayed Release 20 mg (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc.)
- Suboxone 8 mg / 2 mg (Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Suboxone 2 mg / 0.5 mg (Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Subutex 8 mg (Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
