Hypromellose 2% ophthalmic viscosurgical device 2ml pre-filled syringes
Hypromellose, or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) [L1812], is a semisynthetic, inert, and viscoelastic polymer that forms a colloid solution when dissolved in water.
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Safety monitoring data
Yellow Card reports
The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Hypromellose
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Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
EudraVigilance
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Suspected adverse reactions reported for Hypromellose
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4 branded products available
Part of the AJL brand family (generic: Hypromellose)
MHRA licensed products
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Check stock at pharmacies and supply information
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Supply & safety information
Official UK regulator monitoring and safety alerts
Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. Shortage and safety information sourced from MHRA drug safety updates (gov.uk, Crown Copyright under OGL v3.0).
Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems
These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.
NHS UK identifiers
SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF code shown is the factual mapping value distributed by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) in the dm+d supplementary file under OGL v3.0; it is not affiliated with, nor licensed from, the publishers of the British National Formulary.
Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Academic studies and reviews for this medicine's active substance
Showing the 50 most relevant studies.
Reviews & meta-analyses: 2 · 2004–2025
Showing the 50 most relevant studies, sorted by most relevant.
Eliška Mašková, Kateřina Kubová, Bahijja Tolulope Raimi‐Abraham, et al.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2020
- Excipients
- Technology, Pharmaceutical
- Drug Compounding
Akram Hernández-Vásquez, Diego Azañedo, Rodrigo Vargas-Fernández, et al.
Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública, 2021
Qing Wang, Deng‐Guang Yu, Lingling Zhang, et al.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2017
- Coumaric Acids
- Drug Carriers
- Polyethylene Glycols
Chi L Li, Luigi G. Martini, James L. Ford, et al.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2005
- Capsules
- Drug Carriers
- Drug Stability
Fumié K. Tanno, Yuichi Nishiyama, Hiroyasu Kokubo, et al.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2004
- Drug Carriers
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Crystallization
Nicole Kavanagh, Owen I. Corrigan
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2004
- Algorithms
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Methylcellulose
Sudarshan Singh, Ozioma Forstinus Nwabor, Dwi M. Sukri, et al.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022
- Wound Infection
- Metal Nanoparticles
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
Fahanwi Asabuwa Ngwabebhoh, Oyunchimeg Zandraa, Rahul Patwa, et al.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020
- Ampicillin
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Biocompatible Materials
Qiong Jiang, Weitao Zhou, Jun Wang, et al.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2016
- Bandages
- Wound Healing
- Escherichia coli
Sandeep Sarabu, Venkata Raman Kallakunta, Suresh Bandari, et al.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2020
- Hot Melt Extrusion Technology
- Acetates
- Alkynes
Sources: aggregated from Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI), OpenAlex, Crossref, PubMed and other open scholarly databases. Retracted articles are excluded. Study information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank
Key facts
Drug status
Approved
Major interactions
None known
Half-life
Not available
Mechanism
Promotes corneal wetting by the stabilization and thickening the precorneal tear…
Food interactions
None known
Human targets
1 target
Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
Pharmacokinetics at a glance
Absorption
[L1809]
Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0
[L1805]
Hypromellose is considered low toxicity to non-toxic .
[L1812]
Adverse events may include blurred vision and contact dermatitis .
[L1805]
Hypersensitivity and intolerance reactions may occur (for example, eye burning, pain, increased lacrimation, a sensation of foreign body, conjunctival hyperemia, eyelid swelling, pruritus). The stickiness sensation of the eyelids, the decreased sense of smell, photosensitivity .
[L1809]
The surface active properties of the vehicles found in artificial tears solutions act to stabilize the tear film and increase tear viscosity to prevent delay tear evaporation and delay tear drainage [L1805].
In the intact eye, the corneal surface is moistened primarily by the mucin that is produced in the conjunctiva. Mucin is adsorbed on the corneal surface and forms a hydrophilic surface. This creates a moisture barrier. In the typical dry eye, and particularly in case of mucin deficiency, the application of artificial tear fluid is highly recommended. Both its surface activity and its adsorptive capacity make hypromellose optimal for this use. Hypromellose has a physical-chemical action and leads to, in an aqueous solution, a reduced surface tension as well as an increased level of viscosity. Hypromellose adheres well to the cornea and conjunctiva and provides ample moisture. Irritation symptoms caused by blinking, which occur in the case of tear fluid deficiency, are therefore decreased and symptoms of epithelial desiccation are also alleviated [L1809].
Hypromellose is considered an inert substance as it has no direct pharmacological activity. The viscosity promoting properties of hypromellose prolong the retention time and improve adhesion of synthetic tears to the cornea and conjunctiva. As a result, the tear film breakdown time is prolonged and/or the tear film stability is enhanced. A stable tear film protects the cornea from dryness and epithelial cells [L1809].
Hypromellose is a methyl and hydroxypropyl mixed ether of cellulose. It is utilized as artificial tears to prevent conjunctival and corneal damage due to impaired lacrimal secretions. It is also used as a visco-elastic promoting agent by maintaining a deep, viscous chamber and allowing for easier manipulation, helping the vitreous surface to be pushed back, thus preventing the formation of a postoperative flat chamber [L1808].
How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination
[L1809]
Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body
ATC S01KA02
Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
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Chemical identifiers
CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references
Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Hypromellose
DrugBank citations
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Structured knowledge from the free knowledge base
Wikipedia article
cellulose ether used as emulsifier or thickening agent to disperse colloids in water
Read on WikipediaATC classifications (Wikidata)
Linked open data from Wikidata (Q423846), a free and open knowledge base operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Data is available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.