Hypromellose is a polymer with the full name of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. While this thick polymer can be used for a variety of things, according to the Mayo Clinic, its main medicinal use is as eye drops or artificial tears. Hypromellose is not taken as a nutritional supplement.
When you have certain eye surgery, such as Lasik surgery, hypromellose is used to create a barrier between the eye surface and the laser. Hypromellose is only there to prevent further irritation to the eye, it doesn’t aid in the healing process and the surgery can be done without it.
Since Lasik surgery often has the unwanted side effect of damaging the tear ducts, eye drops can be useful not only during the surgery, but after it as well.
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Hypromellose in Medication Hypromellose is a benign or inert polymer. What this means is that it can be added to drugs without causing an interaction. This is very beneficial when it comes to administering drugs via hypodermic needle or via IV as hypromellose can be combined with a drug fo... more
Hypromellose is a benign or inert polymer. What this means is that it can be added to drugs without causing an interaction. This is very beneficial when it comes to administering drugs via hypodermic needle or via IV as hypromellose can be combined with a drug for better delivery.
You will also find hypromellose in liquid medications that you take by mouth. It is often added as a thickener to slow down the absorption rate in the body. This may not seem like a good thing to you, but if you think about it, if you want a medication to last for 12 hours, for example, then it needs to be absorbed slowly rather than all at once.
Hypromellose is often used as a binder in foods. You will find it most often in vegetarian foods because it is a non-meat product. Hydromellose doesn’t have any taste, so it doesn’t interfere with flavors. This makes it an excellent thickener.
You will also find that hypromellose is often used in breads as a gluten substitute. Gluten is sort of like the glue that holds bread together. What’s more, it is the gluten that allows a loaf of bread to look like it is a loaf of bread.
In the past, gluten free breads were flat because the gluten is what helps the bread to keep its shape. With alternatives like hypromellose, it is possible to purchase bread that holds its shape without the gluten.
For some people, the ingestion of gluten can lead to serious medical problems or even death because of a gluten sensitivity called celiac disease. Celiac disease can cause osteoporosis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, anemia, anxiety, depression, nerve damage, and even autism.
For many people, hydromellose allows them to enjoy their favorite foods without running this sort of risk.
Hypromellose in its powder form absorbs moisture. As such, it can be used in food packaging as a way to wick moisture away from a product. Although this is a lesser used benefit of hypromellose, it is something that is being used more often than it was in the past.
Because hypromellose is a viscous polymer, it is often used in commercial grade adhesives such as tile glue or to bind cement. In addition, hydromellose is used in paint to keep it thick.
You will also find hypromellose is used in soap, laundry detergent and household cleaners. This is because it is typically used as a binder for two chemicals or as a thickening agent. In any case, hydromellose is not interactive, so you should not have a physical response to it.
Hypromellose can also be found in lip gloss and lip balms. Hydromellose can be produced in a gel like form and hold that form, making it an excellent protective barrier for the skin.
According to WebMD, there are no known medical interactions for hypromellose. There are no known allergic reactions to this polymer either.
This, however, doesn’t mean that you should use caution when using a product for the very first time. There is no such thing as an element that is 100% allergy free. If you have never used a product that contains hypromellose, you may want to do a skin test first.
What’s more, according to the Mayo Clinic, hypromellose has never been tested for use on nursing or pregnant women. You are advised to seek the advice of your doctor before taking medication or eye drops that contain hypromellose. In all likelihood, it will be perfectly fine, but you should always err on the side of caution when a child is involved.
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| None Known |
| Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose |
| Binder |
| Food Additive |
| Moisture Wicking |
| Prevents Eye Irritation |