An enteric coating prevents what from happening to the medication?

• A. Dissolving in the stomach
• B. Being absorbed in the intestines
• C. Irritating the skin at the site of injection
• D. Reaching the liver following absorption

Answer: (A)

Enteric coatings are designed to resist the acidic environment of the stomach and only dissolve when the medication reaches the higher pH of the small intestine. This means the coating prevents the drug from dissolving in the stomach, which protects acid-labile drugs and reduces stomach irritation. It doesn’t prevent absorption in the intestines once dissolution occurs there, nor does it relate to injection-site irritation or specifically stop the drug from reaching the liver after absorption. So, the coating’s purpose is to prevent dissolution in the stomach.