What is the purpose of a film-coated tablet?

• A. Dissolves in the small intestine
• B. Mask odor
• C. Protect drug and taste
• D. Increase shelf life

Answer: (C)

Film coatings are applied to tablets to provide a protective barrier and improve patient experience. The coating helps shield the drug from moisture, light, and air, which helps maintain potency during storage and in the body. At the same time, it masks the drug’s taste or odor, making the tablet easier to swallow and more acceptable to take. This combination—protecting the drug and its taste—best matches why film-coated tablets are used. Other options describe effects that aren’t the primary purpose for standard film coatings: keeping a drug for the small intestine typically involves a special enteric coating, masking odor alone doesn’t capture the protection aspect, and simply increasing shelf life isn’t the central goal of a film coat.