Hydroxypropyl Cellulose
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is it?
Hydroxypropyl cellulose, also commonly known as hydroxypropyl methycellulose (HPMC) or hypromellose is a coating agent and film-former used as an inactive ingredient in the pharmaceutical industry. It has also been used as a rate-controlling polymer for sustained-release dose forms.[1]
As a powder, hypromellose is off-white to beige and may be in granules. Hypromellose is considered an inert ingredient. It has a high viscosity and is often used in ophthalmic preparations as artificial tears for dry eyes. In the US, it is available over-the-counter (OTC) in such products as Isopto-Tears and Nature’s Tears.[2]
[1] Dave RH. Overview of pharmaceutical excipients used in tablets and capsules. Drug Topics (online). Advanstar. 10/24/2008 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Top+News/Overview-of-pharmaceutical-excipients-used-in-tabl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/561047. Accessed 08/19/2011
[2] Innovate Us. What is Hypromellose? http://www.innovateus.net/health/what-hypromellose. Accessed 08/19/2011
Top Medications with this excipient
- Abilify 5 mg (Bristol-Myers Squibb)
- Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 25 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 25 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 10 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Amitriptyline Hydrochloride 50 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Budeprion XL 150 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Cialis 20 mg (Lilly, Eli and Company)
- Gabapentin 600 mg (Actavis)
- Hydroxyzine Pamoate 25 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Hydroxyzine Pamoate 50 mg (Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Mirtazapine 15 mg (Aurobindo Pharma)
- OxyContin 80 mg (Purdue Pharma LP)
- OxyContin 10 mg (Purdue Pharma LP)
- Promethazine Hydrochloride 25 mg (Zydus Pharmaceuticals)
- Sertraline Hydrochloride 50 mg (Camber Pharmaceuticals)
- Sertraline Hydrochloride 100 mg (InvaGen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Sertraline Hydrochloride 50 mg (Aurobindo Pharma)
- Sertraline Hydrochloride 100 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Sertraline Hydrochloride 50 mg (Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc)
- Simvastatin 20 mg (Aurobindo Pharma)
