What is the primary purpose of inactive ingredients in OTC medicines?

• A. To improve taste, texture, and shelf stability
• B. To cure illnesses
• C. To deliver the active dose
• D. To increase potency

Answer: (B)

Inactive ingredients, the non-therapeutic parts of a medicine, are there to support how the product exists and is used. Their main job is to make the medicine usable and stable: improving taste so it’s easier to swallow, adjusting texture so it’s pleasant or easier to dose, and enhancing shelf life so the product stays effective until its expiration. These components help with manufacturing and delivery in a way that keeps the active ingredient safe and effective, but they don’t cure illnesses themselves. The active ingredient is what treats the condition, and while some inactive ingredients can influence how the medicine releases, the overall purpose of the inactive parts is non-therapeutic support, not increasing potency or curing disease.