Definition: An inactive ingredient in a drug or medication is any component that is not the active ingredient. These are the ingredients in the medication that do not exert the intended effect for taking it, and do not cause the side effects, known or unknown, associated with that drug.
Inactive ingredients are used in the manufacturing process and/or are present in the final medication product. They fulfill a variety of purposes, from delivering the active ingredient to making the pill look and taste good, along with other tasks.
The FDA requires that all inactive ingredients in a medication be listed on the label.
Also Known As: excipient
