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Medication Therapy

Buffy Ryan, RN

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Preparations

Combinations of drugs with various ingredients

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Liquid and Semisolid Preparations

• Given by mouth

• Rubbed on the skin

• Dropped into eyes, ears, other parts of body

• Oral liquids allow rapid absorption of the drug

• Easier to swallow

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Soluble

• Able to be dissolved in liquids

• May be mixed with water, alcohol, or both

• Solutions-the drug is completely dissolved

• Suspension-the drug cannot completely dissolve and tiny particles are suspended throughout the liquid

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Medication Forms and AbbreviationsClassification Form Abbreviation Example

Liquid SolutionSyrupFluidextractSpiritsElixirFluid

solnsyrfld extspelixfl

Normal salineCough syrupIpecacPeppermintDonnatolIV solutions

Semiliquid Tincture tinct, tr Iodine

Solid CapsuleTablet

captab

LibriumLanoxin

Semisolid SuppositoryOintment

suppoint

DulcolaxPetroleum jelly

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Solutions

• Tincture – drug dissolved in solution of alcohol• Fluidextract-Alcohol extracts from plants, very

concentrated• Elixir – solution of a drug, alcohol, & water;

usually sweetened & flavored• Spirit – drug combined with alcohol (evaporates

easily, keep top on tight & stored in dark place)• Syrup – drug mixed with solution of sugar, water

& flavoring

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Suspensions• Emulsion – drug is mixed in solution of fats or oils &

water (must be shaken prior to administering)• Magmas-heavy particles mixed with water that form a

milky liquid• Liniments-liquid suspension for external application• Lotion – drug suspended in water base. Pat onto skin;

external only• Aerosol-fine spray delivered by an oral inhaler

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Solid and Semisolid Preparations• Ointment – drug mixed with lanolin or petroleum jelly. Usually for

skin but can be sterile for eye.• Paste-thicker and absorbed more slowly than ointment. Used for

skin protection.• Powder-fine, dry particles of drugs. May be dissolved in liquid or

used as is. Internal and external uses. • Tablet – powdered drug pressed into a disc . May be scored with an

indentation so they can be broken .• Capsule – gelatin capsule that is water soluble. Contains one dose

of medication which may be powder, oil, or liquid.

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Solid and Semisolid Perparations• Chewable tablet – powdered drug that has been flavored

& pressed into disc• Sublingual tablet – designed to dissolve under the

tongue• Enteric – coated tablet or capsule – prevents drug from

being destroyed by gastric juices (prevents stomach irritation).

• Sustained release capsule or tablet-contain several doses of a drug. Coatings dissolve at different rates

• Caplet – oblong tablet with smooth coating for easier swallowing

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Solid and Semisolid Preparations• Troche & Lozenge – candy-like base, dissolve on the

tongue• Suppository – drug mixed with firm base, like cocoa

butter, that will melt at body temp.• Transdermal patch – patch that will adhere to skin and

deliver medication through skin

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Routes of Medication AdministrationRoute Meaning Abbreviation

Buccal Inside the cheek Buc

Intradermal Into the skin ID

Intramuscular Into the muscle IM

Intravenous Into the vein IV

Oral By mouth PO or po

Rectal By rectum R

Subcutaneous Under skin into fatty layer

Subcut, SQ, subq

Sublingual Under the tongue SL, subling, subl

Topical On the skin No abbreviation

Vaginal By vagina vag

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Techniques for Administering Drugs

• Oral– Slower absorption through GI tract

• Buccal or sublingual – Buccal – placed between the cheek and gum– Sublingual – placed under the tongue – Faster absorption; bypasses GI tract

• GAVAGE – administration of medications through a gastrostomy tube (G-tube or NG tube)

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Techniques for Administering Drugs • Parenteral

– Administration of substance by injection or intravenously

– Fast absorption; bypasses GI tract

– Safety risks• Rapid administration• Rapid action

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Techniques for Administering Drugs

• Methods of injection– Intradermal (ID)

• Into upper layer of skin• Used for skin tests

– Subcutaneous (sub-q)• Provides slow, sustained

release and longer duration of action

• Rotate sites • Smaller gauge & shorter

needle

– Intramuscular (IM)• More rapid absorption• Less irritation of tissue• Larger amount of drug• Z-track method (used

for irritating drugs)

– Intravenous (IV)• Directly into the

vascular system• Peripheral or central IV

sites

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Techniques for Administering Drugs

• Inhalation – administered through the mouth or nose

• Topical – Direct application of a drug on the skin

– Transdermal – use of a medication patch that will release medication slowly and evenly

• Urethral – instill liquid drugs directly into the bladder

• Vaginal and rectal

• Eye or ear – creams, ointments, drops, or irrigations (eye meds must be labeled “sterile-for ophthalmic use only)

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Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.

~Rudyard Kipling