Soluble Fiber Methylcellulose 500 mg Tablet, 100-count
by United Natural Foods, Inc. dba UNFI · 100 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (41163-288-16)
NDC 41163-0288-16
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled)
41163-288-16
billing pads the product segment with a zero
OTC
On market
Non-controlled
🗂️ Data synced Jul 24, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →
🆔 Identity & classification
FDA NDC (as labeled)
41163-288-16
Product NDC
41163-288
11-digit billing NDC
41163028816
NCPDP billing unit
EA — each (per item)
RxCUI
198750
UNII
MRJ667KA5E
Application #
M007
SPL Set ID
6decd5ef-e8e1-44ae-8465-6266cf18e81e
DEA schedule
Non-controlled
Marketing category
OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG
Marketing status
On market
FDA listing status
Listed (active directory)
Marketing start
2018-08-24
Route
ORAL
Dosage form
TABLET
Substance
METHYLCELLULOSE (4000 CPS)
GCN Seq No
003053
GCN
09522
HICL code
001341
Ingredient (HICL)
Methylcellulose
HIC1 code
D
Therapeutic class — broad (HIC1)
Biliary System/Gastro-Intestinal System
HIC2 code
D6
Therapeutic class — intermediate (HIC2)
Drugs Acting Principally On The Colon
HIC3 code
D6S
Therapeutic class — specific (HIC3)
Laxatives And Cathartics
AHFS code
56:12.00.00
AHFS class
Cathartics And Laxatives
FDB label name
EQL SOLUBLE FIBER 500 MG CPLT
FDB brand name
Soluble Fiber
Legend status
O — Over-the-counter (OTC) drug or device
Why two NDCs?
The FDA registers this code as 41163-288-16 — a 5-3-2 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the product segment → 41163-0288-16. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Bulk-forming laxatives class.
Drug family (ATC)
Bulk-forming laxatives
Where does this data come from?
Therapeutic classes from RxNorm RxClass (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Established Pharmacologic Class (FDA), ATC drug family (WHO) and mechanism of action, matched by this product’s RxCUI.
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
LabelerUnited Natural Foods, Inc. dba UNFI
FDA applicationM007 (OTC MONOGRAPH DRUG)
Labeler code41163
First marketedAug 2018
Product typeHuman Otc Drug
Portfolio211 products on file
The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.
🩺 Clinical
Label name EQL SOLUBLE FIBER 500 MG CPLT Ingredient Methylcellulose
🧪 What is this product?
This is an over-the-counter oral tablet containing methylcellulose, a soluble fiber commonly used to add bulk to stool and promote regular bowel movements. Methylcellulose is typically used as a laxative and stool softener to help relieve occasional constipation. This product is marketed under the FDA's over-the-counter drug monograph rules for fiber-based digestive aids rather than as an individually approved application.
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Some supplements/herbs that may interact with Methylcellulose — tap one for details:
Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.
💬 Questions about Methylcellulose?
Ask a pharmacist →
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
Loading inactive ingredients from the official FDA label in the background. No external source is being called by this page request.
Where does this data come from?
Source: official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed and the openFDA label index. Structured
IACT rows and label-wide narrative are kept separate; availability and product-level specificity depend on the submitted label.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.
💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per each | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · quarterly | No Part D plan price is available for this NDC in our data. | |
ℹ️
No price is published for this exact package yet. CMS surveys NADAC per package size, so a different pack of the same drug often has one.
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citrucel 500 mg 00135-0199-01 | Haleon | 180 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Walgreens Fiber Therapy 500 mg 00363-1220-10 | WALGREENS | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Rite Aid Fiber Therapy 500 mg 11822-2221-00 | RITE | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Soluble Fiber 500 mgthis 41163-0288-16 | United | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| meijer Fiber Therapy 500 mg 41250-0212-10 | MEIJER | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| equate Fiber Therapy 500 mg 49035-0756-10 | Wal-Mart | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Goodsense Fiber 500 mg 50804-0364-16 | GoodSense | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| CVS Fiber Therapy 500 mg 51316-0122-00 | CVS | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| CDMA Fiber Therapy 500 mg 63868-0166-10 | CHAIN | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Best Choice Fiber Therapy 500 mg 63941-0122-10 | BEST | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Premier Value Fiber Therapy 500 mg 68016-0122-10 | PHARMACY | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| DRx Choice Fiber Therapy 500 mg 68163-0122-00 | RARITAN | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Amazon Fiber Therapy 500 mg 72288-0122-00 | AMAZON.COM | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| QUALITY CHOICE Fiber Therapy 500 mg 83324-0228-01 | CHAIN | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
About this product: other versions of the same ingredient, strength and form are listed above, least expensive first, with FDA equivalence ratings where available.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.
⏳ Availability & generic status
🏛️
2018
On the market since
Aug 2018
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
8 years listed
🔒
·
No generic listed yet
brand only
ℹ️No FDA-approved generic found
We did not find an FDA-approved generic match for this exact strength, form and route.
Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.
🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Read carefully: FAERS reports are voluntary and unverified. Counts are not incidence, do not establish causation, are subject to reporting bias, and cannot be used to compare one drug to another. Shown for signal context only. Reports for Soluble Fiber (this brand).
Top reported reactions
Age at onset
Reporter sex
Male · 44%
Female · 56%
Serious outcomes
Reports over time (by year) — tap or hover for the count & year
Most recent year is provisional (FAERS lags ~3 months).
Where does this data come from?
Adverse-event reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA. FAERS reports are voluntary and unverified — counts are not incidence and don’t establish causation.
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41163-0288-16 You're viewing this | 100 TABLET in 1 BOTTLE (41163-288-16) | 2018-08-24 | Active |
🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage
Over-the-counter (OTC) product
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
| NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) | ✓ Available |
| Labeler | ✓ Available |
| Product & package description | ✓ Available |
| Marketing category & status | ✓ Available |
| Active ingredient / dosage form / route | ✓ Available |
| FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) | ✓ Available |
| Package photos | — Not published for this NDC No photo available yet for this listing. |
| Inactive ingredients (structured) | — Not published for this NDC The labeler did not submit a structured excipient list, or no SPL is available. |
| NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) | — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey. |
| Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data | — Not published for this NDC Applies only to products approved under an NDA/ANDA; many listings are out of scope. |
| HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk | — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal. |
| Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) | — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold. |
“Not published” reflects what the public FDA / CMS / NLM sources provide for this exact package code — it is a property of the data feeds, not a judgment about the product.
Questions about this listing
Is this NDC FDA-approved?
An NDC listing does not by itself establish FDA approval — the NDC Directory records that a product is listed with FDA, not that it was reviewed and approved. This listing's marketing category is "Otc Monograph Drug". Products approved under an application carry an NDA, ANDA, or BLA number.
Why is there no price listed?
The pricing shown on our NDC pages comes from CMS NADAC, a voluntary survey of retail community pharmacy invoices. CMS does not publish a NADAC for every NDC — packages outside the retail survey (institutional and hospital products, bulk packages, discontinued items, and many OTC items) may never receive one. A missing price reflects the survey's scope, not this product's actual cost, and does not mean the product is free or unavailable.
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
Yes, they identify this exact package in different formats. The FDA registers it as 41163-288-16, which is what is printed on the packaging and shown on DailyMed. Insurance claims use a fixed 11-digit 5-4-2 format, so the short segment is padded with a leading zero: 41163-0288-16, written without dashes as 41163028816. The Identity section at the top of this page lists every form of this code.
What do the three segments of this NDC mean?
In 41163-0288-16, the first segment (41163) is the labeler code FDA assigned to United Natural Foods, Inc. dba UNFI; the middle segment (0288) identifies this specific product — its ingredient, strength, and dosage form; and the last segment (16) identifies this exact package size and type. Together they name one specific package of one specific product.
Is this package still being marketed?
Yes, per the latest FDA NDC Directory data on this page: this package is listed as actively marketed, with no marketing end date reported by United Natural Foods, Inc. dba UNFI. Listing status can change — the directory data on this page refreshes weekly.
Who lists this product with the FDA?
United Natural Foods, Inc. dba UNFI is the labeler of record for this NDC — the company under whose FDA-assigned code the package is listed. The labeler may be the manufacturer itself or a distributor marketing the product under its own code.
Do I need a prescription for this product?
This NDC is listed with FDA as an over-the-counter product, so it does not require a prescription. Follow the package directions, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure whether it is right for you.
This page identifies an FDA-listed package (the NDC) and reports public regulatory and pricing data about the listing. It is reference information, not a medical recommendation — talk to your pharmacist or prescriber about your own medication.
Where does this data come from?
Listing facts (marketing category, packager status, marketing dates) from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory; label availability from DailyMed; pricing coverage from CMS NADAC; equivalence scope from the FDA Orange Book.
📄 FDA label — Drug Facts FDA SPL
The complete FDA label for this product — the official Drug Facts labeling, verbatim, section by section. Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage
⏱️ Dosage and Administration
⚠️ Warnings
📦 Storage and Handling
🧪 Active Ingredient
🧪 Inactive Ingredients
🎯 Purpose
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
USE(S) relieves occasional constipation to help restore and maintain regularity generally produces a bowel movement in 12-72 hours
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION SECTION Directions This product generally produces effect in 12-72 hours take this product (child or adult) dose with atleast 8 ounces (a full glass) of water or other fluid taking this product without enough liquid may cause choking, see choking warning. AGE DOSE MAXIMUM DOSE adults & children 12 years & over 2 caplets up to 6 times daily children 6 to 11 years 1 caplet up to 6 times daily children under 6 years ask a doctor ask a doctor
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS Choking: Taking this product without adequate fluid may cause it to swell and block your throat or esophagus and may cause choking. Do not take this product if you have difficulty in swallowing. If you experience chest pain, vomiting or difficulty in swallowing or breathing after taking this product, seek immediate medical attention.
📦 Storage and Handling ▾
OTHER INFORMATION each caplet contains: sodium 10 mg store below 25 o C (77 o F) protect contents from moisture keep tightly closed
🧪 Active Ingredient ▾
ACTIVE INGREDIENT (in each caplet) Methylcellulose 500 mg
🧪 Inactive Ingredients ▾
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS citric acid, colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, FD&C yellow no.6 aluminum lake, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, sodium lauryl sulfate.
🎯 Purpose ▾
PURPOSE Bulk-forming laxative
No label section mentions that — try another word, or open the full label on DailyMed below.
Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA.
Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published
NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.