Inactive ingredients by manufacturer

Mercaptopurine inactive ingredients by manufacturer

Wondering whether your Mercaptopurine has lactose, gluten, soy, a dye or gelatin in it? The medicine is the same, but the fillers, coatings and colors differ from one company to the next. This page shows what each Mercaptopurine product's FDA label lists, so you can find a version that leaves out what you avoid and ask your pharmacist for it by its NDC.

We have read the FDA labels of 5 of the 6 current Mercaptopurine products on the market today, from 4 companies listing it with the FDA, and lined them up side by side. 1 label has no inactive-ingredient list we could read, so that product cannot be compared.

Ask about your bottle

Is there something in your Mercaptopurine? Ask in plain words.

Name the company, strength or the NDC on your bottle and the ingredient you avoid. The answer comes only from the FDA labels on this page.

Answers are drawn from the FDA label data on this page and checked against it. They are not medical advice: confirm with your pharmacist before relying on them.

The short answer

Which Mercaptopurine products list lactose, a gluten source, soy, dyes or gelatin?

  1. LactoseDiffers by manufacturer

    3 of 5 checked products list lactose; 2 do not. See the products

    Does not list it Hikma
    Lists it Florida Pharmaceutical Products Golden State Medical Supply Hikma
  2. Wheat or gluten sourceNo checked product

    No checked Mercaptopurine product lists a wheat or gluten source.

  3. SoyNo checked product

    No checked Mercaptopurine product lists soy.

  4. Synthetic dyesNo checked product

    No checked Mercaptopurine product lists synthetic dyes.

  5. GelatinNo checked product

    No checked Mercaptopurine product lists gelatin.

Also listed by some products: Corn 5 of 5 Aspartame 2 of 5 Sugar 2 of 5

Find a version without it

Every current Mercaptopurine product and what its label lists

Hide products that list:

ProductListsInactive ingredients on the label
Florida Pharmaceutical Products, LLC 1 product
50 mg tabletNDC 71921-0150-02 Lactose Corn-derived
Show 6 ingredients

LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, STARCH, CORN, STARCH, POTATO, STEARIC ACID, WATER
Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. 1 product
50 mg tabletNDC 51407-0983-25 Lactose Corn-derived
Show 9 ingredients

ANHYDROUS LACTOSE, HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED, LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO, STARCH, CORN, STARCH, POTATO, STEARIC ACID, WATER
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 3 products
20 mg/mL oral suspensionNDC 00054-0879-49 Corn-derived Aspartame (phenylalanine) Sugar (sucrose, dextrose)
Show 12 ingredients

ASPARTAME, CORN SYRUP, ETHYLPARABEN SODIUM, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, METHYLPARABEN SODIUM, POTASSIUM SORBATE, RASPBERRY JUICE, SILICON DIOXIDE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SUCROSE, WATER, XANTHAN GUM
20 mg/mL oral suspensionNDC 00054-4582-49 Corn-derived Aspartame (phenylalanine) Sugar (sucrose, dextrose)
Show 12 ingredients

ASPARTAME, CORN SYRUP, ETHYLPARABEN SODIUM, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, METHYLPARABEN SODIUM, POTASSIUM SORBATE, RASPBERRY JUICE, SILICON DIOXIDE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SUCROSE, WATER, XANTHAN GUM
50 mg tabletNDC 00054-4581-11 Lactose Corn-derived
Show 9 ingredients

ANHYDROUS LACTOSE, HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED, LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO, STARCH, CORN, STARCH, POTATO, STEARIC ACID, WATER
Nova Laboratories, Ltd 1 product
20 mg/mL oral suspensionNDC 62484-1020-04 No inactive-ingredient list on the label No list we could read

A product with none of these listed is not certified to be without them: the label says what the manufacturer declared, and the source of a starch or a flavor is often not stated. The companies are the FDA's labelers, which include repackagers and distributors selling another company's product under their own label. The NDC opens the product's own page, with the full label and its inactive-ingredient notes.

Mercaptopurine without lactose

Lactose: milk sugar; a concern with lactose intolerance or a milk allergy. 3 of 5 checked products list lactose; 2 do not.

Does not list lactose

Lists lactose

Mercaptopurine and corn-derived ingredients

Corn-derived: corn starch, maize or corn syrup; a concern with corn allergy. Every checked Mercaptopurine product (5) lists corn-derived ingredients.

Lists corn-derived ingredients

Mercaptopurine without aspartame (phenylalanine)

Aspartame (phenylalanine): A concern with phenylketonuria (PKU). 2 of 5 checked products list aspartame (phenylalanine); 3 do not.

Does not list aspartame (phenylalanine)

Lists aspartame (phenylalanine)

Mercaptopurine without sugar (sucrose or dextrose)

Sugar (sucrose, dextrose): A consideration in diabetes, mostly in liquids and chewables. 2 of 5 checked products list sugar (sucrose or dextrose); 3 do not.

Does not list sugar (sucrose or dextrose)

Lists sugar (sucrose or dextrose)

At the pharmacy counter

How to use this at the pharmacy counter

  1. Pick the company whose list suits you and copy the NDC from the table. Many pharmacies order from wholesalers that carry several companies' versions and can request a particular one if you ask before the prescription is filled; some buy from one contracted source only, and a few insurance plans cover only certain NDCs, so ask the pharmacist to check.
  2. Treat "does not list" as exactly that. The label is what the manufacturer declared; a flavor or a starch may have an unstated source, and lines change. For celiac disease or a serious allergy, ask the manufacturer's medical information line for a written statement about the lot you have.
  3. Check the bottle each refill. A different company usually means a different shape, color and inactive-ingredient list; the pharmacist can tell you who made it, and the two-NDC comparison shows the difference line by line.
  4. If you need one company's version kept constant, ask your prescriber to write that company or the NDC on the prescription and tell the pharmacy you need it held. Rules vary by state and plan, so confirm with the pharmacist.
Ask Dr. Staiger which Mercaptopurine product suits you →

Common questions about Mercaptopurine inactive ingredients

Is Mercaptopurine gluten-free?
This page cannot certify any Mercaptopurine product gluten-free; it reports what each label declares. Of the 5 products checked, none lists a wheat, barley, rye or gluten ingredient, and none lists a starch without a stated source. If you have celiac disease, ask the manufacturer's medical information line for a written gluten statement for the lot you have.
Does Mercaptopurine contain lactose?
3 of 5 checked Mercaptopurine products list lactose; 2 do not: Hikma (20 mg/mL oral suspension). The lactose in a tablet or capsule is a small amount, but people with a milk allergy or a strong intolerance often prefer a version that does not list it.
Does Mercaptopurine contain soy?
No checked Mercaptopurine product lists a soy ingredient (soybean oil or soy lecithin) on its label. Soy lecithin is the usual form and the amount is small, but people with a soy allergy often prefer a version that does not list it.
Is there a dye-free Mercaptopurine?
No checked Mercaptopurine product lists a synthetic dye (an FD&C or D&C colorant) on its label. Colorants often differ by strength within one company's line, so compare the lists above strength by strength.
Does Mercaptopurine contain gelatin?
No checked Mercaptopurine product lists gelatin on its label. Gelatin is usually bovine or porcine and the label rarely says which; for kosher, halal or vegetarian needs, ask the manufacturer.
Why do the inactive ingredients differ between manufacturers?
A generic must match the brand's active ingredient, strength, dose form and how it is absorbed; its fillers, binders, coatings and colorants are the manufacturer's own choice. That is why one Mercaptopurine product can list lactose and a dye while another from a different company lists neither.
Can my pharmacy give me a specific manufacturer's version?
Often, if you ask before the prescription is filled: many pharmacies order from wholesalers that carry several companies' versions and can request a particular one. Some pharmacies buy a generic from one contracted source only, and a few insurance plans cover only certain NDCs, so ask the pharmacist to check. Give them the NDC from this page; the company name alone is often enough.
How current is this list?
The products are the ones in the FDA's current NDC directory as of October 6, 2026, and each inactive-ingredient list is the manufacturer's FDA label as our label sync last read it. Formulations change, so check the label on your own bottle and ask your pharmacist if a refill looks different.

Sources: the products are the finished Mercaptopurine products in the FDA's current NDC directory (openFDA), as of October 6, 2026; each inactive-ingredient list is the manufacturer's FDA Structured Product Label via DailyMed, as our label sync last read it. The concern groups are HelloPharmacist's classification of the names the label declares. Educational information only, not medical advice; confirm with your pharmacist before relying on a list. ← Back to the Mercaptopurine guide