You receive a prescription for a sugar-free oxycodone solution. Which excipient classifies a solution as sugared?

• A. Aspartame
• B. Glucose
• C. Saccharin
• D. Sucrose

Answer: (D)

This question tests how the type of sweetener used as an excipient determines whether a solution is considered sugared versus sugar-free. Nutritive sugars add caloric content, so a solution that contains such a sugar is described as sugared. Sucrose is the classic sugar used in many oral solutions to provide sweetness and body; its presence makes the formulation sugar-containing. Non-nutritive sweeteners like aspartame or saccharin provide sweetness without meaningful calories, so they are used to keep products sugar-free. Glucose is also a sugar, but in this context the traditional indicator of a sugared syrup is sucrose, which is why it’s the best answer.