HPMC is a multi-purpose pharmaceutical excipient. In the production of tablets, it is used as a film coating or adhesive agent. It can also significantly increase the dissolution rate as well as enhance the water-retention properties of a tablet.

The product can be used as a suspension, ophthalmic preparation, sustained-release reinforcing material and in floating tablets. Combined with other synthetic polymers and colloidal drugs,

HPMC can prevent water and alcohol from separating from transparent gels and improve water retention properties. In addition, vegetable capsules are generally manufactured from HPMC .