A tablet that resists digestion in gastric acid.
An enteric-coated tablet is a medication tablet with a surface layer that resists the effects of stomach acids. This unique coating allows the tablet to remain intact as it passes through the stomach and reaches the small intestine. In the small intestine, the enteric coating dissolves, enabling the contents of the tablet to be absorbed. Such tablets are employed in cases where the drug might potentially harm the stomach lining, as seen with certain corticosteroid medications. Additionally, they are used when stomach acids could affect the drug’s effectiveness, as observed with sulphasalazine, for instance.