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Excipient Reactivity

Meaning

Excipient reactivity describes the potential for non-active ingredients, or excipients, within a pharmaceutical formulation to trigger an adverse reaction in a patient, ranging from localized irritation to systemic allergic response. These inactive components, such as dyes, preservatives, fillers, or binding agents, are essential for drug stability and delivery but can sometimes provoke an immune or hypersensitivity response. Clinicians must consider this possibility when a patient exhibits unexpected symptoms that do not align with the known pharmacology of the active drug. Careful review of all formulation components is necessary to ensure patient safety and tolerability.