What is the difference between enteric-coated and regular tablets?

What is the difference between enteric-coated and regular tablets?

• A. Enteric-coated tablets dissolve in the stomach, while regular tablets dissolve in the intestines
• B. Enteric-coated tablets resist stomach acid and dissolve in the intestines
• C. Regular tablets are usually larger than enteric-coated tablets
• D. Enteric-coated tablets are more effective than regular tablets

Answer: (B)

Enteric-coated tablets are designed with a special coating that protects them from the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. This coating ensures that the tablet does not dissolve until it reaches the more neutral pH of the intestines. The primary purpose of enteric coating is to prevent irritation of the stomach lining, improve the absorption of certain medications that might be degraded by stomach acid, and deliver the medication directly to the site where it is intended to work, which is often in the intestines. Regular tablets, on the other hand, do not have this protective coating and typically dissolve in the stomach, releasing their active ingredients earlier in the digestive process. This fundamental difference is crucial in medication administration, as it impacts how and where the drug is absorbed in the body. The size of the tablets and their effectiveness are not inherently linked to whether they are enteric-coated or regular, making those options less relevant to the specific difference between the two types of tablets. Therefore, the correct understanding focuses on the coating and its role in the dissolution of the tablets in the gastrointestinal tract.

Enteric-coated tablets are designed with a special coating that protects them from the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. This coating ensures that the tablet does not dissolve until it reaches the more neutral pH of the intestines. The primary purpose of enteric coating is to prevent irritation of the stomach lining, improve the absorption of certain medications that might be degraded by stomach acid, and deliver the medication directly to the site where it is intended to work, which is often in the intestines.

Regular tablets, on the other hand, do not have this protective coating and typically dissolve in the stomach, releasing their active ingredients earlier in the digestive process. This fundamental difference is crucial in medication administration, as it impacts how and where the drug is absorbed in the body.

The size of the tablets and their effectiveness are not inherently linked to whether they are enteric-coated or regular, making those options less relevant to the specific difference between the two types of tablets. Therefore, the correct understanding focuses on the coating and its role in the dissolution of the tablets in the gastrointestinal tract.