A white, yellowish-white or grayish-white powder or granules,
hygroscopic after drying.
soluble in cold water, flocculates at elevated temperatures
Water retention aid, thickening agent, protective colloid, suspending agent, binder and stabilizer.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose is used as an excipient in a wide
range of pharmaceutical products, including oral tablets and
suspensions, and topical gel preparations. It has similar properties
to methylcellulose, but the hydroxyethyl groups make it more
readily soluble in water and solutions are more tolerant of salts and
have a higher coagulation temperature.
Hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose is used as an excipient in various oral
and topical pharmaceutical preparations, and is generally regarded
as an essentially nontoxic and nonirritant material.
Hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose is hygroscopic and should therefore
be stored under dry conditions away from heat.
GRAS listed. Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in
Europe (oral suspensions, tablets, and topical preparations).
