API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients)

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) are the primary substances in medications that produce the intended health effects. They are the actual chemicals responsible for treating, preventing, or managing medical conditions. For example, the API in pain relievers like acetaminophen provides pain relief. APIs are combined with other ingredients, called excipients, to create the final pharmaceutical product. They are produced through complex chemical processes in specialized facilities and are crucial for ensuring medications are safe and effective. In essence, APIs are the core components that give medicines their therapeutic power.