Tartrazine-Containing Drugs

Abstract

Although the incidence of tartrazine sensitivity in the general population is low, serious adverse reactions have occurred. To prevent unnecessary exposure of sensitive patients, physicians should avoid prescribing tartrazine-containing drugs. Because of new FDA requirements that manufacturers list tartrazine dye in both over-the-counter and prescription drugs, many manufacturers have reformulated their products to remove this colorant. Therefore, previously published lists of tartrazine-containing drugs are outdated. We conducted a survey of American manufacturers to derive a current list of tartrazine-containing drugs. This list is intended for use as a guide for health professionals who wish to avoid products containing tartrazine in prescribing for patients sensitive to it.