Some medicines can cause stomach irritation. Enteric coating allows a medication to pass through your stomach intact and dissolve when it's in your small intestine. Because enteric coating is resistant to stomach acid, it protects the stomach from direct contact with the drug. But once the tablet dissolves in the intestine, the body can absorb the medication.
Ask your doctor about an enteric-coated product if you take medication that upsets your stomach. Because the coating delays absorption, a single dose may not give prompt relief from joint pain or headache.
