Common excipients in aspirin tablets?

See the DrugPatentWatch profile for aspirin

What ingredients are typically inside aspirin tablets?

Aspirin tablets usually contain, besides acetylsalicylic acid (the active ingredient), several excipients that help the tablet hold together, dissolve, and remain stable. Common excipients can include:
- Binders and tablet-forming agents (to give the tablet hardness and structure)
- Fillers or diluents (to provide bulk and consistent dosing)
- Disintegrants (to help the tablet break apart in the stomach)
- Lubricants (to help manufacturing and prevent sticking)
- Coatings or stabilizers (to improve storage and swallowing)

Which excipients show up most often?

In many commercial aspirin tablet formulations, excipients commonly include:
- Microcrystalline cellulose and/or starches (for bulk and tablet structure)
- Corn starch or similar disintegrants (to help tablets dissolve/break apart)
- Colloidal silicon dioxide (often used as a glidant and moisture-related processing aid)
- Magnesium stearate and/or stearic acid (lubricants to prevent sticking during compression)
- Sodium starch glycolate or croscarmellose sodium (often used as disintegrants in tablets)

Do “aspirin” excipients differ by type of tablet (regular vs coated)?

Yes. Regular immediate-release aspirin tablets typically use disintegrants to help them break up quickly. Enteric-coated or delayed-release aspirin tablets use additional excipients and coatings designed to resist dissolution in the stomach and dissolve later in the intestine, so the inactive ingredient list can look different from standard tablets.

Can I find the exact excipients for a specific aspirin product?

The excipients can vary by manufacturer and by country. The most reliable way is the “Inactive ingredients” section on the product label or package insert for the exact brand and dosage strength you have.

Sources

No provided sources.