Aluminum Oxide
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 3, 2025.
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Aluminum oxide, also known as alumina, is a white, crystalline powder, with a chemical formula of Al2O3. Aluminum oxide occurs in nature as various minerals such as bauxite or corundum. Aluminum oxide has many uses in pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturing processes. It is used as an adsorbent, desiccating agent, and catalyst, and in the manufacture of dental cements. It is also available in consumer products; for example as an abrasive in toothpaste, as a dispersing agent food additive, and for uses in hemodialysis.
Aluminum oxide is not classified as a human carcinogen, but workers chronically exposed to aluminum-containing dust or particles have developed severe pulmonary reactions including fibrosis, emphysema and pneumothorax. Inhalation effects of short-term exposure may cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation. Long-term inhalational effects of long-term exposure may affect the central nervous system[1][2]
Some examples of medications containing Aluminum Oxide
- Amoxicillin 500 mg
- Benadryl Allergy Ultratab diphenhydramine 25 mg
- Buprenorphine Hydrochloride and Naloxone Hydrochloride (Sublingual) 8 mg (base) / 2 mg (base)
- Cefuroxime Axetil 500 mg
- Cephalexin Monohydrate 500 mg
- Clonidine Hydrochloride 0.1 mg
- Clonidine Hydrochloride 0.1 mg
- Dicyclomine Hydrochloride 20 mg
- Hydrochlorothiazide and lisinopril 12.5 mg / 10 mg
- Meclizine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Metaxalone 800 mg
- Mucinex Maximum Strength 1200 mg
- Nucynta tapentadol 50 mg
- OxyContin 80 mg
- Oxymorphone Hydrochloride 10 mg
- Prednisone 20 mg
- Prochlorperazine Maleate 10 mg
- Unithroid 25 mcg (0.025 mg)
- Unithroid 100 mcg (0.1 mg)
- Viagra 100 mg
References
- [1]International Program on Chemical Safety/Commission of the European Communities; International Chemical Safety Card on Aluminum oxide (October 2000). Available from, as of May 20, 2010: http://www.inchem.org/pages/icsc.html Accessed March 19, 2012
- [2]Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1984., p. II-128
Further information
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