Which tablet type is covered to protect it from stomach acid and should never be crushed or broken?

Which tablet type is covered to protect it from stomach acid and should never be crushed or broken?

• A. Enteric-Coated tablets
• B. Film-Coated tablets
• C. Caplets
• D. Chewable tablets

Answer: (A)

Enteric-coated tablets have a protective coating that resists stomach acid, so the drug remains intact as it moves into the intestines where it is released. Crushing or breaking this coating destroys that protection, causing the medicine to release in the stomach, which can irritate the stomach lining or reduce effectiveness. That’s why this tablet type should never be crushed or broken. Film-coated tablets also have a coating, but it’s mainly for swallowing ease and taste masking, not for acid protection, so they aren’t inherently required to remain uncrushed for acid resistance. Caplets are just a tablet shape, and chewable tablets are meant to be chewed, not kept intact for acid resistance.

Enteric-coated tablets have a protective coating that resists stomach acid, so the drug remains intact as it moves into the intestines where it is released. Crushing or breaking this coating destroys that protection, causing the medicine to release in the stomach, which can irritate the stomach lining or reduce effectiveness. That’s why this tablet type should never be crushed or broken. Film-coated tablets also have a coating, but it’s mainly for swallowing ease and taste masking, not for acid protection, so they aren’t inherently required to remain uncrushed for acid resistance. Caplets are just a tablet shape, and chewable tablets are meant to be chewed, not kept intact for acid resistance.