Ad
related to: how does enteric coating work
Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
An enteric coating is a polymer barrier applied to oral medication that prevents its dissolution or disintegration in the gastric environment. [1] This helps by either protecting drugs from the acidity of the stomach, the stomach from the detrimental effects of the drug, or to release the drug after the stomach (usually in the upper tract of the intestine). [2]
It is available as delayed-release capsules or tablets and as esomeprazole sodium for intravenous injection/infusion. Oral esomeprazole preparations are enteric-coated, due to the rapid degradation of the drug in the acidic condition of the stomach. This is achieved by formulating capsules using the multiple-unit pellet system.
Capsule contents may be released by melting the wall, or dissolving it under particular conditions, as in the case of an enteric drug coating. [7] In other systems, the wall is broken by solvent action, enzyme attack, chemical reaction, hydrolysis, or slow disintegration. Microencapsulation can be used to slow the release of a drug into the body.
Enteric coatings are also used for medicines that can be negatively affected by taking a long time to reach the small intestine, where they are absorbed. Coatings are often chosen to control the rate of dissolution of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract. Some drugs are absorbed better in certain parts of the digestive system.
Essentially, the capsule consists of extremely small enteric-coated granules (pellets) of the esomeprazole formulation inside an outer shell. When the capsule is immersed in an aqueous solution, as happens when the capsule reaches the stomach, water enters the capsule by osmosis .
Aqueous film coating is the most common film coating method currently used. [1] This type of film coating uses water to aid in the film coating process instead of organic solvents. [1] The result is a safer means of film coating, as it avoids the toxic and flammable properties of organic solvents.
Some time release formulations do not work properly if split, such as controlled-release tablet coatings, while other formulations such as micro-encapsulation still work if the microcapsules inside are swallowed whole. [25] [26] Among the health information technology (HIT) that pharmacists use are medication safety tools to help manage this ...
Enterohepatic circulation of drugs. Enterohepatic circulation is the circulation of biliary acids, bilirubin, drugs or other substances from the liver to the bile, followed by entry into the small intestine, absorption by the enterocyte and transport back to the liver.