Abstract

Subash Chandran M. P.*, Prasobh G. R., Remya S. B., Aparna P., Saranya S. and Blessy M. R.

ABSTRACT

A brief discussion on enteric coated tablet was made in this review article. The coating of tablets has many beneficiaries like wrapping flavor, masking smell, bypass and protect the drug materials from gastric fluids physical and chemical protection, etc. As the name indicates, the enteric coatings prevent release of medication before it reaches the small intestine. The enteric coating acts by prroviding surface that is stable at the highly acidic pH of the stomach, but breaks down rapidly at a less acidic pH. They will dissolve in the alkaline (pH 7-9) environment present in the small intestine whereas they won’t dissolve in the acidic juices of the stomach (pH 3). HPMCP, CAT, waxes, PVAP, plant fibres, plastics, waxes and shellac are the commonly used materials used for enteric coatings. This enteric coated drug delivery system aims to release the drug directly in the intestine. In this article various steps involved in the preparation of enteric coated tablets, advantages and limitations was discussed. Manufacturing defects of tablets was also elaborated.