Enteric Coated Tablets: An oral dosage form in which a tablet is coated with a material to prevent or minimize dissolution in the stomach but allow dissolution in the small intestine.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) defines delayed-release (DR) tablets as enteric-coated to delay the release of the medication until the tablet has passed through the stomach to prevent the drug from being destroyed or inactivated by gastric juices or where it may irritate the gastric mucosa.

These all are types of Controlled Release (CR) formulations.

#Controlled Release-It controls "site" as well as "rate" of drug release.

1) PR=SR:- This all are meant to maintain drug concentration withing the therapeutic window for maximum or desirable period of time.

It controls only the rate of release so may be called as "Modified Release" formulation.

2) Delay Release-(ex: Enteric Coated OR colon targeted tablet) is also a Controlled Release formulation but it only controls only the site.

However, some times by some authors, CR , ER, PR, & SR are used interchangeably for the same purpose, i.e. Sustained release.

Hope you find your answer.!

I think its already cleared by Dr Munir, Dr Reddy and Dr Hammad. Its true as they have specified all the terms comes under the controlled release dosage forms. These can be used to control the release in the therapeutic window by delaying in the elimination of drug. There may be sometimes slight difference, because of the use of polymers used. Example of Depakote given at http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drug-topics/news/clinical/pharmacy/fda-safety-page-delayed-release-vs-extended-release-rxs?page=full.

As per my opinion, prolonged release tablet may stay for long time in the intestines, but again its based upon the polymer or other additives used.

Maximum residence time of your tablet throughout your body is 20-22 hours...You can increase residence time by bioadhesion.