Common examples of adverse reactions to excipients

Excipient: Tartrazine
Function: Colouring agent
Caution in practice: Reported cases of hypersensitivity, and hyperkinetic activity in children

Excipient: Aspartame
Function: Sweetener
Caution in practice: Caution in patients with phenylketonuria

Excipient: Benzalkonium chloride
Function: Preservative
Caution in practice: Bronchoconstriction (nebuliser solutions) and ocular toxicity (soft contact lens solutions)

Excipient: Sodium metabisulphite
Function: Antioxidant
Caution in practice: Hypersensitivity, including bronchospasm and anaphylaxis, are reported for all sulphites

Excipient: Propyl gallate
Function: Antioxidant
Caution in practice: Contact sensitivity and skin reactions

Excipient: Lactose
Function: Tablet filler
Caution in practice: Caution in patients with galactosaemia, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome, or lactase deficiency

Excipient: Sesame oil
Function: Oil (injections)
Caution in practice: Hypersensitivity reactions reported

Excipient: Lanolin (wool fat)
Function: Emulsifier (topical products)
Caution in practice: Skin hypersensitivity reactions, caution in patients with known sensitivity



http://www.australianprescriber.com/upload/pdf/articles/1207.pdf

Statins administration

"... Given that cholesterol is biosynthesized in the early morning hours, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended evening administration for statins with shorter half-lives (lovastatin 2 hours, simvastatin < 5 hours, and fluvastatin < 3 hours). In contrast, the FDA suggested daytime administration for statins with longer half-lives (atorvastatin 14 hours, rosuvastatin 19 hours, and pravastatin 22 hours). Atorvastatin also has active metabolites with half-lives ranging from 20 to 30 hours, which may contribute to the fact that it can be taken at any time."

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552756?src=mp