Carnauba Wax
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 14, 2025.
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Carnauba wax is used in the pharmaceutical industry for tablet coatings and binding. Carnauba wax comes from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm grown only in Brazil. Carnauba wax is also known as palm wax or Brazil wax.
Carnauba wax primarily consists of fatty acid esters. Coating tablets with the wax enables easier swallowing of the tablet. Carnauba wax has many other uses, including uses from car wax to dental floss. Carnauba wax is a safe, non-toxic and inert ingredient.[1][2]
Some examples of medications containing Carnauba Wax
- Acetaminophen 500mg
- Acetaminophen Extended Release 650 mg
- Acetaminophen, Aspirin and Caffeine 250 mg / 250 mg / 65 mg
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 5 mg
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Excedrin Migraine (Caplet) acetaminophen 250 mg / aspirin 250 mg / caffeine 65 mg
- Extra Pain Relief acetaminophen 250 mg / aspirin 250 mg / caffeine 65 mg
- Famotidine 20 mg
- Famotidine 40 mg
- Famotidine 20 mg
- Famotidine 10 mg
- Famotidine 40 mg
- Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Ibuprofen 800 mg
- Ibuprofen 600 mg
- Loperamide Hydrochloride 2 mg
- Montelukast Sodium 10 mg
- Montelukast Sodium 10 mg (base)
- Tylenol 8HR 650 mg
References
- [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 03/24/2012
- Wolfmeier, U., Schmidt, H., Heinrichs, F.L., et al. 2000. Waxes. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry.
Further information
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