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Enteric-coated Pill

From Michael Bihari, MD, for About.com

Updated: August 28, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition:

Enteric-coated pills have a special coating to prevent the medication from dissolving in your stomach. This is intended to prevent irritation of the lining of your stomach from the drug or to prevent the drug from being destroyed by the acids in your stomach.

The term “enteric” refers to the small intestine” and implies that your medication will move from your stomach to your small intestine before it dissolves.

Examples:
Ascriptin-Enteric - an enteric-coated form of aspirin used to prevent irritation of the stomach lining.
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