Ever wondered how those pills and tablets you take work?

In our life we take many medicine prescribed by our doctors. But what happens to them once they are inside our body? How do these medicines know what they are supposed to do?

The most common route for medications
The most common route is taking medication by mouth (oral). From here the medication has a journey to make that starts from our mouths to the target area.

Medicines in the digestive system

When medicines reach the stomach, some will start to dissolve. A few medicines will be absorbed into the stomach lining, others will move onto the small intestine. However, a number of tablets that are in capsule form or specially coated, will remain intact until they reach the small intestine. This is because if the medicine wasn't protected in this way, the contents would be destroyed by the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. In addition some other medications have special coverings to protect the stomach lining as these tablets may induce higher levels of hydrochloric acid that is harmful.

Medications not processed fully by the stomach move into the small intestine. They are absorbed into the lining of the small intestine.