Sodium starch glycolate is the sodium salt of carboxymethyl ether. It is used as a pharmaceutical grade dissolution excipient for tablets and capsules. SSG absorbs water rapidly, resulting in swelling which leads to rapid disintegration of tablets and granules. It is used as a disintegrant, a suspending agent and as a gelling agent. Without a disintegrant, tablets may not dissolve appropriately and may affect the amount of active ingredient absorbed, thereby decreasing effectiveness.