Final answer:
Patients may insist on taking a buffered or enteric-coated tablet to minimize side effects or to ensure the medication reaches its intended site of action without being degraded by stomach acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients may insist on taking a buffered or enteric-coated tablet for a few reasons. Firstly, a buffered tablet contains a buffering agent, like MgO, that regulates the acidity of the medication to minimize its acidic side effects. This can be important for patients who may be sensitive to the acid properties of certain medications, like aspirin.
Secondly, an enteric-coated tablet has a special coating that protects the medication from being broken down by stomach acid. This allows the medication to pass through the stomach and into the small intestine before being absorbed into the bloodstream. Enteric-coated tablets are often used for medications that need to be released slowly or that may have adverse effects on the stomach.
In summary, patients may opt for buffered or enteric-coated tablets to minimize side effects or to ensure the medication reaches its intended site of action without being degraded by stomach acid.