D-Mannitol

In pharmaceutical preparations it is primarily used as a diluent in tablet formulations. In lyophilized preparations, mannitol has been included as a carrier to produce a stiff, homogeneous cake that improves the appearance of the lyophilized plug in a vial.A pyrogen-free form is available specifically for this use. Mannitol has also been used to prevent thickening in aqueous antacid suspensions of aluminum hydroxide. It has been suggested as a plasticizer in soft-gelatin capsules, as a component of sustained-release tablet formulations,and as a carrier in dry powder inhalers.It is also used as a diluent in rapidly dispersing oral dosage forms.