What do active and inactive ingredients in OTC products refer to?

Active ingredients in over-the-counter (OTC) products are the components that provide the therapeutic effects intended to treat, cure, or prevent a specific condition, such as pain relief or allergy relief. In contrast, inactive ingredients serve various supporting roles, such as acting as fillers, binders, preservatives, colorants, or flavoring agents that help stabilize the product, improve its taste, or ensure its proper formulation without affecting the drug's primary action.

Therefore, understanding the roles of both active and inactive ingredients is crucial for both the formulation of the product and for patients using the medication. This knowledge ensures that consumers can be informed about what they are taking and why certain ingredients are included, contributing to the product’s stability and usability.