Tablets that are designed to delay absorption until after the drug has bypassed the stomach are known as what?

Tablets designed to delay absorption until after the drug has bypassed the stomach are referred to as having an enteric coating. This special coating allows the tablet to pass through the stomach without dissolving, ensuring that the active ingredient is released in the intestines instead. This method is particularly useful for protecting the drug from the acidic environment of the stomach, preventing degradation, or minimizing gastric irritation.

Although the term "delayed release" might seem synonymous with enteric coating, it generally refers to a broader category of formulations that release the active ingredient later than standard immediate-release forms. Therefore, while "delayed release" is a correct terminology that encompasses various mechanisms of inhibiting premature drug release, enteric coating specifically addresses the mechanism of protecting the drug until it reaches the intestines.

Sustained release and controlled release refer to the gradual release and absorption of medication over an extended period, rather than specifically delaying release until the intestines, which differentiates them from enteric-coated tablets.