Scribd
Upload
2K views3 pages

Routes of Drug Administration: Route Advantages Disadvantages Oral

This document summarizes various routes of drug administration and their advantages and disadvantages. Oral administration is the most convenient but may be inappropriate if the patient has nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal issues. Sublingual and buccal routes provide convenience and potency similar to oral but bypass the liver. Rectal administration allows slow, steady release when other routes are unsuitable. Intravenous provides the most rapid effect but is limited to soluble drugs. The optimal route depends on drug properties and patient factors.

Uploaded by

Renita Chris
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views3 pages

Routes of Drug Administration: Route Advantages Disadvantages Oral

This document summarizes various routes of drug administration and their advantages and disadvantages. Oral administration is the most convenient but may be inappropriate if the patient has nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal issues. Sublingual and buccal routes provide convenience and potency similar to oral but bypass the liver. Rectal administration allows slow, steady release when other routes are unsuitable. Intravenous provides the most rapid effect but is limited to soluble drugs. The optimal route depends on drug properties and patient factors.

Uploaded by

Renita Chris
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Routes of Drug Administration

Route Advantages Disadvantages


Oral Most convenient Inappropriate for patients
with nausea and vomiting
Usually least expensive
Drug may have unpleasant
Safe, does not break skin taste or odour
barrier
Inappropriate when
Administration usually gastrointestinal tract has
does not cause stress reduced motility

Inappropriate if patient
cannot swallow or is
unconscious

Cannot be used before


certain diagnostic tests or
surgical procedures

Drug may discolour teeth,


harm tooth enamel

Drug may irritate gastric


mucosa

Drug can be aspirated by


seriously ill patients
pSublingual Most convenient If swallowed, drug may be
inactivated by gastric juice
Usually least expensive
Drug must remain under
Safe, does not break skin tongue until dissolved and
barrier absorbed

Administration usually Drug is rapidly absorbed


does not cause stress into the bloodstream

Drug can be administered


for local effect

More potent than oral


route because drug directly
enters the blood and
bypasses the liver
Buccal Most convenient If swallowed, drug may be
inactivated by gastric juice
Usually least expensive
Drug must remain under
Safe, does not break skin tongue until dissolved and
barrier absorbed

Administration usually Drug is rapidly absorbed


does not cause stress into the bloodstream

Drug can be administered


for local effect

More potent than oral


route because drug directly
enters the blood and
bypasses the liver

Rectal Can be used when drug Dose absorbed is


has objectionable taste or unpredictable
odour

Drug released at slow,


steady rate
Vaginal Provides a local Limited use
therapeutic effect
Topical Provides a local effect Maybe be messy and may
soil clothes
Few side effects
Drug can enter body
through abrasions and
cause systemic effects
Trans dermal Prolonged systemic effect Leaves residue on the skin
that may soil clothes
Few side effects

Avoids gastrointestinal
absorption problems
Subcutaneous Onset of drug action faster Must involve sterile
than oral technique because breaks
skin barrier

More expensive than oral

Can administer only small


volume

Slower than intramuscular


administration

Some drugs can irritate


tissues and cause pain

Can produce anxiety


Intramuscular Pain from irritating drugs is Breaks skin barrier
minimized
Can produce anxiety
Can administer larger
volume than subcutaneous

Drug is rapidly
absorbed
Intravenous Rapid effect Limited to highly soluble
drugs

Drug distribution inhibited


by poor circulation
Inhalation Introduces drug throughout Drug intended for localized
respiratory tract effect can have systemic
effect
Rapid localized relief
Of use only for the
Drug can be administered respiratory system
to unconscious client

You might also like