An Active Pharma Ingredients (API) is the ingredient in a pharmaceutical drug or pesticide that is biologically active. Some medication products may contain more than one active ingredient. The traditional word for the API is pharmacon or pharmakon. The dosage form for a pharmaceutical contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), which is the drug itself, and excipients, which are the substances of the tablet, or the liquid the API is suspended in, or other material that is pharmaceutically inert. Drugs are chosen primarily for their active ingredients.