Polydextrose
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 3, 2025.
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Polydextrose is a polymer of D-glucose, sorbitol, and citric acid. Polydextrose is a fiber and sugar/carbohydrate replacement product used in the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Polydextrose is lower in calories than regular sugar, and has 1 kcal/gram compared to 4 kcal/gram in normally digested carbohydrates. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to impart low calorie flavor and fiber to marketed products, many of them over-the-counter.
Because polydextrose is water soluble but indigestable, it has also been used as a fiber-bulking agent in the food industry for products that are typically low in fiber. In this way, manufacturers can claim on their food labels that the products have dietary fiber value.[1]
Some examples of medications containing Polydextrose
- Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine Extended Release 20 mg
- Aspirin Enteric Coated 81 mg
- Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10 mg
- Citalopram Hydrobromide 20 mg
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg
- Escitalopram Oxalate 5 mg (base)
- Escitalopram Oxalate 20 mg (base)
- Escitalopram Oxalate 10 mg (base)
- Famotidine 10 mg
- Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride 25 mg
- Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride 10 mg
- Ibuprofen 600 mg
- Ibuprofen 200 mg
- Ibuprofen 200 mg
- Ibuprofen 800 mg
- Ketorolac Tromethamine 10 mg
- Metoprolol Succinate Extended-Release 25 mg
- Morphine Sulfate Extended-Release 15 mg
- Morphine Sulfate Extended-Release 30 mg
- Spironolactone Hydrochloride 25 mg
References
- [1]DeVries J, Post B. Polydextrose. Technical Bulletin. Medallion Labs. http://www.medlabs.com/Downloads/polydextrose.pdf Accessed March 22, 2012
Further information
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