Sodium Glycolate
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 18, 2025.
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Sodium glycolate is the sodium salt of carboxymethyl ether. Starch glycolates are from potato, rice, wheat or corn origin. Sodium glycolate is a white to off-white, tasteless, odorless, relatively free flowing powder.
Sodium glycolate is used as a pharmaceutical grade dissolution excipient for tablets and capsules. Sodium glycolate absorbs water rapidly, resulting in swelling which leads to rapid disintegration of tablets and granules. It is used as a disintegrant, a suspending agent and as a gelling agent. Without a disintegrant, tablets may not dissolve appropriately and may effect the amount of active ingredient absorbed, thereby decreasing effectiveness. [1] [2]
Some examples of medications containing Sodium Glycolate
- Cefaclor 500 mg
- Cefaclor 250 mg
- Folgard vitamin D3 2000 IU / folic acid 800 mcg / vitamin B6 12 mg / vitamin B12 120 mcg
- Prednisone 20 mg
- Propylthiouracil 50 mg
- Propylthiouracil 50 mg
References
- [1]Dave RH. Overview of pharmaceutical excipients used in tablets and capsules. Drug Topics (online). Advanstar. 10/24/2008 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Top+News/Overview-of-pharmaceutical-excipients-used-in-tabl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/561047. Accessed 08/19/2011
- Pformulate. Excipients. Sodium Starch Glycolate. 2004. http://www.pformulate.com/nastgly.htm Accessed October 17, 2011
Further information
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