Magnesium Stearate
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Magnesium stearate (Mg(C18H3502)2 or octadecanoic acid) is a solid, white powder at room temperature. It is a FDA-approved inactive ingredient commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a diluent for the manufacture of tablet, capsule, and powder dosage forms.
Magnesium stearate is generally recognized as safe by the FDA.[1] Magnesium stearate exists as a salt form and is useful for it's lubricating properties for capsules and tablets in industry. It is used to help prevent pharmaceutical ingredients from adhering to industry equipment.[2] Magnesium stearate may be derived from both plant and animal sources.
[1] FDA’s SCOGS database; Magnesium stearate, Report No. 60, 1979.; ID Code: 557-04-0; http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/fcnDetailNavigation.cfm?rpt=scogsListing&id=198 Accessed July 18, 2011.
[2] [2]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
Top Medications with this excipient
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 10 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 5 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 7.5 mg (Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals)
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 10 mg (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 7.5 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 5 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 325 mg / 10 mg (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.)
- Acetaminophen and Oxycodone Hydrochloride 325 mg / 10 mg (Amneal Pharmaceuticals)
- Alprazolam 2 mg (Dava Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Alprazolam 2 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Alprazolam 1 mg (Actavis)
- Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Perrigo Company)
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc.)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 10 mg (Zydus Pharmaceuticals)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Amneal Pharmaceuticals)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Zydus Pharmaceuticals)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.)
- Xanax 2 mg (Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group)
