Monday, December 14, 2020

Advantages and disadvantages of enteric coating

  The enteric coating is also known as gastric-resistant coating it is a polymer-based barrier that is applied to prevent the dissolution or disintegration of oral medication in the gastric environment, enteric coating has its several advantages and disadvantages also, let’s check it.

The different types of dosage forms are developed by the pharmaceutical industries for patient compliance. Modified-release dosage forms are developed to deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) that part of the body to ensure that the concentration of the drug is retained at a suitable period to simplify the dosing schedule. Enteric coating is a type of modified-release solid dosage form, which prevents stomach irritation by the drug and protects it from stomach acid. The various types of tablet coating such as sugar coating, film coating, and enteric coating are used for medication.
Advantages of enteric coating:
  • The major advantage of enteric coating is that it is used to release the drug in the small intestine (alkaline pH) and avoids the drug release in the stomach (acidic pH), by which they provide long or controlled therapeutic action of the drug.
  • Enteric-coated tablets or dosage forms can mask the taste and odor of the drugs and excipients, makes it easier for children and elderly patients to swallow medicines.
  • It can reduce the frequent dosing of tablets or capsules by releasing sequential medication which can improve patient compliance.
  • It can improve the appearance of the product by using coating different colors.
  • Enteric coating is an economical method as compared to other dosage forms.
  • It is also used in capsules in preparing enteric-coated granules.
  • It usually takes an hour or two for the drug to dissolve, making it ideal for time-sensitive drugs.
  • Compared with uncoated tablets, the coating typically provides physical and chemical protection from environmental conditions to the drug.
Disadvantages of enteric coating:
  • The major disadvantage of enteric coating is that the process is tedious and time-consuming resulting in expensive products.
  • Coating materials are used in bulk quantities.
  • It can interfere with the pharmacodynamic properties of active ingredients.
  • Enteric coating takes additional time after the compression of tablets.
  • It should be handled by a highly skilled technician as it uses expensive equipment and processes.
  • Enteric-coated tablets cannot split or crushed before swallowing, it needs to be swallowed intact.
Commonly asked questions on tablet dosage forms are as follows.

Why effervescent tablets are used?
Effervescent tablets are widely used because it has significant benefits such that it dissolves rapidly in liquid and the ingredients are quickly absorbed.

What is the major advantage of the buccal or sublingual tablets?
The major advantage of buccal or sublingual tablets is that it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and it is good for patients who experience trouble swallowing or digesting the drug.

What is the difference between capsule and tablet?
A tablet is a compressed powder in solid form, while a capsule contains powder, granules, or jelly enclosed in a dissolved gelatin shell.

What is the working principle of the tablet coating machine?
Tablet coating machines operate on the principle of applying coating ingredients as a solution to a group of tablets in a bed that can move horizontally or vertically.


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