What Goes Into a Tablet? Understanding the Ingredients in Your Medicine

When you swallow a tablet, you’re probably thinking about what it does — not what it’s made of. But every tablet contains more than just the active drug. In fact, most of what’s in a tablet isn’t medicine at all, but other helpful ingredients that make it safe, stable, and effective.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what typically goes into a tablet:

1. The Active Ingredient

This is the part of the tablet that does the job — whether it’s relieving pain, lowering blood pressure, or fighting infection. It’s often present in small amounts, sometimes just a few milligrams.

2. Fillers (Also Called Diluents)

Because active ingredients are usually very small in volume, fillers are added to bulk up the tablet to a manageable size. Common fillers include lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, or calcium phosphate.

3. Binders

These keep the ingredients together so the tablet holds its shape. Without a binder, the tablet might crumble. Examples include starch, gelatin, or synthetic polymers.

4. Disintegrants

Once swallowed, a tablet needs to break apart to release the medicine. Disintegrants help it dissolve quickly in your stomach or intestine. A common example is sodium starch glycolate.

5. Lubricants and Glidants

These are added during manufacturing to make sure the powder flows smoothly and doesn’t stick to the machinery. Magnesium stearate is one of the most widely used lubricants.

6. Coatings

Some tablets are coated for easier swallowing, to protect the stomach, or to mask the taste. Coatings may also control how fast the medicine is released in your body.

Why It Matters

All these ingredients — called excipients — play a crucial role in making medicines safe, effective, and pleasant to take. Without them, tablets wouldn’t be nearly as reliable or convenient.

So the next time you take a tablet, remember — it’s a lot more than just the medicine. It’s a carefully crafted combination designed to work just right.