Administration of drugs

Administration routesand pharmaceutical form

Tea Baršić

Mirna KudlačMentor: A. Žmegač

Horvat

Methods of administering drugs

oral administration sublingual administration rectal administration parenteral administration inhalation topical application

Oral administration

by mouth

form: tablets capsules syrups

Pros & Cons

convenient for the patient

can be done at home

possible destruction or inactivation

possibly not absorbable

useless in emergency

Sublingual administration

under the tongue absorption into sublingual veins

form: tablets

example: nitroglycerin

Rectal administration

into the rectum when vomiting or unable to swallow

form: suppositories aqueous solutions

Parenteral administration

intracavitary intradermal intramuscular intrathecal intravenous iubcutaneous

form: injections

Intracavitary injection

into a body cavity (e.g. peritoneal, pleural)

example: nitrogen mustard (intrapleural, prevents fluid accumulation)

Intradermal injection

shallow into upper layers of skin

example: allergy testing

Intramuscular injection

into muscle (buttock or upper arm) when irritating to skin when large amounts of long-acting

drug needed example: adrenaline

Intrathecal injection

into space under meninges surrounding spinal cord & brain

example: methotrexate (in leukemia)

Intravenous injection into a vein for immediate effect when unsafe for other tissues good technical skill needed

(leakage may cause irritation & inflammation)

example: heparin

Subcutaneous injection

into subcutaneous tissue (usually upper arm, thigh, abdomen)

example: insulin

Inhalation

into nose or mouth absorbed through alveoli

form: aerosols

example: anesthetics, antiasthmatics

Topical application

locally on skin or mucous membranes

form: lotions creams ointments transdermal patches eyedrops, eardrops, nasal drops

References

Handout Rang, Dale, Ritter, Moore:

Pharmacology, 1st Croatian edition

Thank you!