If a prescription drug has a generic, its name is the same as its API.
Combination therapies have more than one active ingredient, each of which may act differently or treat different symptoms.
It’s a good idea to know the APIs of medications that you take.
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(For example, acetaminophenthe active ingredient in Tylenolis a well-known API.)
Excipients like gluten, lactose, sugar, and some dyes can causeallergic reactionsin some people.
The health effect is listed to the right of that information.
Prescription drug labels list the brand name of the drug (if applicable) above the generic name.
The generic name is also the API of that drug.
For example: “Amphetamine 10MG: Generic for Adderall 10MG.”
For example, the chemical name for aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid.
Where Are APIs Made?
A Word From Verywell
Pharmacists are often an untapped resource.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations.
Reker D, Blum SM, Steiger C, et al.Inactive ingredients in oral medications.Sci Transl Med.
2019;11(483).
doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aau6753
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Generic drugs: Questions and answers.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safeguarding pharmaceutical supply chains in a global economy.
