and a hydrophobic compound in the substantial absence of a higher aliphatic alcohol application_number US 5174702 A description in a preferred embodiment of the invention slow release tablets are formed by mixing a hydrophobic compound with an unhydrated cellulose polymer to form a dry mixture the mixing of the unhydrated polymer with the hydrophobic material is performed prior to the addition of a granulating liquid preferably an active pharmaceutical agent is mixed with the cellulose polymer and the hydrophobic compound other materials or excipients may be mixed into the composition during the formation of the dry mixture these materials may comprise fillers diluents lubricants binders granulating aids colourants flavourants and glidants in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cellulose polymer is mixed with a hydrophobic compound dye and lactose hydrophobic compounds suitable for use include u201c waxy u201d organic compounds that have low solubility in water and a melting point greater than room temperature examples of hydrophobic compounds that may be used in the present invention include compounds selected from the group consisting of higher aliphatic acids both saturated and unsaturated and having a carbon chain length of greater than eight higher aliphatic esters hydrocarbons which are solid at room temperature e g wax long chain carboxylic acids and higher aliphatic alcohols the preferred higher aliphatic alcohols are those selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols of 8 18 carbon atoms the most preferred aliphatic alcohols for use in the invention are lauryl alcohol myristyl alcohol cetyl alcohol stearyl alcohol and cetostearyl alcohol other preferred hydrophobic compounds include aliphatic acids preferred acids are those selected from the group consisting of palmitic myristic lauric capric stearic and behenic acid sodium stearyl fumarate.