Monograph: |
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium:
A Cross-linked polymer of cannellose sodium. It has a sodium
content of 5 to 9% calculated with reference to the dried sub-
stance. A white or greyish white, free flowing, powder. Par-
tially soluble in water: practically insoluble in acetone, in
dehydrated alcohol, in ether, in toluene, and in most other or-
ganic solvents. A 1% suspension in water has a pH of 5 to 7.
Store in airtight containers.
Use and Administration
Cannellose calcium and carmellose sodium have a variety of
pharmaceutical uses. including use As suspending, thicken-
ing, and emulsifying agents, and as disintegrants, binders, and
coating agents in tablets. Cannellose sodium is also used as
an emulsifier or stabiliser in the food industry. Croscarmel-
lose sodium is employed as a tablet disintegrant.
Carmellose sodium is used topically as an ingredient of pro-
tective preparations for stoma care. in the management of
wounds, and for the mechanical protection of oral and perio-
ral lesions, such as mouth ulceration . It is also used.
in concentrations of up to in artificial saliva preparations
for the treatment of dry mouth , and in eye drops for
the management of dry eye .
Carmellose sodium given orally absorbs water and acts as a
bulk-forming agent: the volume of faeces is increased and
peristalsis promoted. It is used in the treatment of constipa-
tion. Carmellose sodium has been included in prep-
arations to control appetite in the management of obesity
but there is little evidence of efficacy. For precau-
tions to be observed with bulk-forming agents, see under
Methylcellulose.
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