Glossary Term
Preservative Excipient
Definition
Chemicals that are added to drug products to prolong shelf life and maintain sterility. Protection of formulations, especially aqueous solutions, against microbial growth requires use of either antibacterial or antifungal preservatives. Generally, such agents are active against either bacteria or fungi but a few are active against both. The antimicrobials include but not limited to chlorobutanol, benzyl alcohol, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, and phenol. The antioxidizing agents include butylated hydroxytoluene, hydroxyanisole, propyl gallate, and sulfites. The necessary addition of preservatives for both safety and economy sometimes has been associated with significant adverse effects in certain patient populations.
Extended Notes
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C42659. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-20. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.