What does it mean when a drug is described as having a 'non-medicinal' status?

When a drug is described as having a 'non-medicinal' status, it refers to its classification as an inert ingredient. Inert ingredients are substances that do not have any pharmacological activity but may serve other purposes in a drug formulation, such as aiding in drug delivery, stability, or absorption. These ingredients help formulate the end product without contributing to the therapeutic effects.

In contrast, a placebo is designed to mimic a medicinal effect without containing the active ingredient, which is not the same as an inert ingredient. A drug that has been withdrawn from use implies that it has been removed from the market due to safety or efficacy concerns, while a legally unapproved drug is one that has not received regulatory approval for sale and thus cannot legally be marketed. Both of these statuses imply a different context than that of a non-medicinal or inert ingredient.