Excipients

Cellulose derivatives

Bulking agent

Carboxymethylcellulose sodium

Bulking agent, suspending agent, and tablet binder

Acacia

Emulsifying agent and tablet binder

Glyceryl Monostearate

Oleaginous fats; emulsifying agent

Sorbitan Monooleate

Oleaginous fats; emulsifying agent

Magnesium Stearate

Oleaginous fats; emulsifying agent and glidant

Talc

Gliding agent; hydrated magnesium silicate

Colloidal silicone dioxide

Glidant; adsorbant (holds molecules together and keeps dry)

Crospovidone

Disintegrant; Hygroscopic (attracts water, swells, then explodes)

Glycerin

Humectant, sweetener, levigating

Propylene glycol

Humectant (keeps things moist)

Sorbitol

Humectant, sweetener

Pregelatinized starch

Tablet binder

Methyl and ethyl cellulose

Tablet binder and bulking agent

Povidone (PVP — polyvinylpyrrolidone)

Tablet binder

Liquid glucose

Tablet binder

Parabens

Antifungal

Sodium Metabisulfite

Antioxidant

Mineral oil

Levigating agent

Alcohol

Solvent

Vegetable and nut oil

Solvent

Oleic acid

Solvent

Water and saline

Solvent

Cetyl alcohol

Stiffening/Thickening agent

Cetyl esters wax

Stiffening/Thickening agent

Microcrystalline wax

Stiffening/Thickening agent

Lanolins

Paraffin, yellow and white wax; Stiffening/Thickening agent

Clays

Agar, bentonite, kaolin; Suspending agent

Carbomer

Suspending agent

Hydroxyethyl, Hydroxypropyl cellulose

Suspending agent and bulking

Gum

Tragacanth, Veegum; Suspending agent

Aspartame

Sweetener; NutraSweet

Xylitol

Sweetener; deadly for dogs — seizures, low blood sugar, liver failure

Dextrose

Sweetener

Mannitol

Sweetener

Sucrose

Sweetener

Saccharin sodium

Sweetener

Ferric oxide derivate

Colorants

Defoamer

HLB 1-3; no dispersion

W/O emulsifier

HLB 3-6; poor dispersion

Wetting agent

HLB 7-8; milky dispersion when shook

O/W emulsifier

HLB 9-10; milky dispersion

Detergent

HLB 11-13; opaque

Solubilizer

HLB 14-16; clear

Levigation

Break up particles via spatulation; begins solubilization by wetting powder

Humectants

Keep things moist

Glidants

Reduce friction

Tablet binders

Make drug and inactive granules stick together

Suspending agents

Increase viscosity and reduce sedimentation