Enteric Coating

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If a tablet is described as having an 'enteric coating' (e/c) or 'gastro-resistant' it means that there is a coating which is designed to hold the tablet together in acid conditions i.e. the stomach and therefore release the drug in the intestines.

There are three reasons for putting such a coating on a tablet or capsule ingredient:

  • To protect the stomach from the drug
  • To protect the drug from the stomach
  • To release the drug after the stomach e.g. in the intestines

The drugs which most commonly cause stomach ulcers like aspirin, diclofenac and naproxen are frequently available with enteric coatings. Omeprazole is itself broken down in acid and therefore the drug generally has an enteric coating around it either as a granule in the capsules or as a granule in the dispersible form. Sulfasalazine is used either for the treatment of arthritis or for the treatment of Crohn's disease which is inflammation of the intestines. When used for arthritis it is very often given without an enteric coating so that it can be absorbed more quickly, whereas for Crohn's where it is needed in the intestines to work it is given with an enteric coating.

It can be seen that an enteric coating is therefore there usually for a good reason and therefore such tablets or the contents of enteric coated capsules should never be crushed before being taken.