Active ingredients provide pharmaceutical value, while inactive ingredients act as carriers. Interaction between active ingredients is critical. Branded drugs use patented and controlled active ingredients. Inactive ingredients can perform various functions, such as aiding absorption or controlling dosage. Comparing active ingredients can save money.
Active ingredients are components of a drug that provide some pharmaceutical value, in contrast to inactive ingredients, which act as carriers to make the drug easier for the body to process. The term is also used in the pesticide industry to describe active pesticides in a formulation. In both cases, these ingredients are literally “active”, performing a specific function at the time of application or ingestion.
Many drugs combine several active ingredients, and the interaction between them can be critical to the drug’s function. In synthetically compounded pharmaceuticals, manufacturers can tightly control the potency of their ingredients, because they are formulated under controlled conditions. Herbalists and companies that use products of natural origin must pay attention to their formulations, because the potency of the active ingredients can vary widely, depending on factors beyond the control of the manufacturer.
Branded drugs are based on carefully patented and controlled active ingredients. Once patents expire and competitors can make generic versions, generics typically use the same ingredients, often in a formulation identical to that of the original drug. Sometimes, however, manufacturers make small changes that can have a profound impact on the drug’s effectiveness. For example, using a different inactive ingredient could inadvertently change the potency of the drug, or using a different source for the ingredients could result in a drug with slightly different effects.
In the case of over-the-counter medicines, the active ingredients are always listed on the back. It can be a good idea to compare them when considering which drug to buy, as generic brand names are often identical and much less expensive than brand names. Cough syrup, for example, might be priced radically different depending on the manufacturer, but the ingredients that help a patient stop coughing will be the same. Comparing pharmaceutical products before buying can save money for savvy buyers.
Inactive ingredients, also known as excipients, can perform a number of functions. For example, some active components cannot be absorbed very well by the body, so they must be combined with a soluble excipient so that the body can process them. In other cases, the active ingredients are very strong and their combination with an excipient allows greater control over the dosage; without an excipient, a potent pill might be the size of a pinhead, but with one it can be formulated into a larger, more manageable size.
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