This document discusses various routes of drug administration and their advantages and disadvantages. The main routes discussed are oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, transdermal, rectal, inhalation, and sublingual administration. Each route has different absorption patterns and some pros and cons, such as convenience, onset of effects, bypassing first-pass metabolism, irritation potential, and suitability for certain drug properties.
This document discusses various routes of drug administration and their advantages and disadvantages. The main routes discussed are oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, transdermal, rectal, inhalation, and sublingual administration. Each route has different absorption patterns and some pros and cons, such as convenience, onset of effects, bypassing first-pass metabolism, irritation potential, and suitability for certain drug properties.
This document discusses various routes of drug administration and their advantages and disadvantages. The main routes discussed are oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, transdermal, rectal, inhalation, and sublingual administration. Each route has different absorption patterns and some pros and cons, such as convenience, onset of effects, bypassing first-pass metabolism, irritation potential, and suitability for certain drug properties.
Figure 1.5 The absorption pattern, advantages, and disadvantages of the most common routes of administration. ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES ABSORPTION PATTERN Oral Intravenous Subcutaneous Intramuscular Transdermal (patch) Rectal Inhalation Sublingual - VariabIe, aected by many factors - Absorption not required - Depends on drug diIuents: Aqueous soIution: prompt Depot preparations: sIow and sustained - Depends on drug diIuents: Aqueous soIution: prompt Depot preparations: sIow and sustained
- SIow and sustained - rratic and variabIe - Systemic absorption may occur. 7his is not aIways desirable - Depends on the drug: Few drugs (for exampIe, nitroglycerin) have rapid, direct systemic absorption Most drugs erraticaIIy or incompIeteIy absorbed - Safest and most common, convenient, and economicaI route of administration - Can have immediate eects - IdeaI if dosed in Iarge voIumes - SuitabIe for irritating substances and compIex mixtures - VaIuabIe in emergency situations - Dosage titration permissibIe - IdeaI for high-moIecuIar-weight proteins and peptide drugs - SuitabIe for sIow-reIease drugs - IdeaI for some poorIy soIubIe suspensions - SuitabIe if drug voIume is moderate - SuitabIe for oiIy vehicIes and certain irritating substances - PreferabIe to intravenous if patient must seIf administer - ypasses the rst-pass eect - Convenient and painIess - IdeaI for drugs that are IipophiIic, thus requiring proIonged administra- tion - IdeaI for drugs that are quickIy eIiminated from the body - PartiaIIy bypasses rst-pass eect - ypasses destruction by stomach acid - IdeaI if drug causes vomiting - IdeaI in patients who are vomiting, or comatose - Absorption is rapid, can have immediate eects - IdeaI for gases - ective for patients with respiratory problems - Dose can be titrated - LocaIized eect to target Iungs: Iower doses used compared to that with oraI or parentaI administration - Fewer systemic side eects - ypasses rst-pass eect - ypasses destruction by stomach acid - Drug stabiIity maintained because the pH of saIiva reIativeIy neutraI - May cause immediate pharma- coIogicaI eects - Limited absorption of some drugs - Food may aect absorption - Patient compIiance is necessary - Drugs may be metaboIized before systemic absorption - UnsuitabIe for oiIy or poorIy absorbed substances - oIus injection may resuIt in adverse eects - Most substances must be sIowIy injected - Strict aseptic techniques needed - Pain or necrosis if drug is irritating - UnsuitabIe for drugs administered in Iarge voIumes - Aects certain Iab tests (creatine kinase) - Can be painfuI - Can cause intramuscuIar hemorrhage (precIuded during anticoaguIation therapy) - Some patients are aIIergic to patches, which can cause irritation - Drug must be highIy IipophiIic - May cause deIayed deIivery of drug to pharmacoIogicaI site of action - Limited to drugs that can be taken in smaII daiIy doses - Drugs may irritate the rectaI mucosa - Not a weII-accepted route. - Most addictive route (drug can enter the brain quickIy) - Patient may have dimcuIty reguIating dose - Some patients may have dimcuIty using inhaIers - Limited to certain types of drugs - Limited to drugs that can be taken in smaII doses - May Iose part of the drug dose if swaIIowed