Which statement describes the purpose of enteric coating?

Which statement describes the purpose of enteric coating?

• A. It protects the drug from being inactivated in the stomach
• B. It makes the drug dissolve more quickly in the stomach
• C. It greatly enhances palatability
• D. It prevents absorption in the intestine

Answer: (A)

Enteric coating is a pH-sensitive barrier that resists dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach and only dissolves when it reaches the higher pH of the small intestine. This protects drugs that would be inactivated by stomach acid and can also reduce irritation to the stomach lining. Because of this, the primary purpose is to keep the drug from being inactivated in the stomach. It does not make dissolution occur faster in the stomach; it actually delays release until the intestinal environment. It also isn’t mainly about taste masking or preventing absorption in the intestine.

Enteric coating is a pH-sensitive barrier that resists dissolution in the acidic environment of the stomach and only dissolves when it reaches the higher pH of the small intestine. This protects drugs that would be inactivated by stomach acid and can also reduce irritation to the stomach lining. Because of this, the primary purpose is to keep the drug from being inactivated in the stomach. It does not make dissolution occur faster in the stomach; it actually delays release until the intestinal environment. It also isn’t mainly about taste masking or preventing absorption in the intestine.