Routes of drug administration
Drugs can be administered through one of the following routes. These include
n- n
- Oral – Mouth n
- Topicallyu00a0 n
- Sublingual n
- Rectallyu00a0 n
- Vaginally n
- Parentally u2013 (Intramuscular, Intravenously, subcutaneously) n
Oral Route
This is the most common route. Some drugs have what is called a sustained release profile, which allows the active ingredient to be delivered over an extended period of up tou00a0 24hrs.
Delayed delivery is achieved by film coating the tablet. Be alert about the following formulations.
nExtended Release -u00a0XT/XL/XR
Modified Release – MR
Controlled Release – CR
Sustained Release – SRu00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0Long Acting – LAu00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0
Tablets that don’t have a line in the middle (non – scored) should not be cut.u00a0
Sublingual Route
This route utilizes the rich supply of blood vessels in the sublingual mucosa through which drugs can be absorbed.
This route offers rapid absorption into the systemic circulation i.e. GTN spray (Glyceryl Trinitrate in acute angina treatment.
Rectal Administration
This route focuses on the localised drug delivery into the large bowel i.e. rectal steroids in the form of enemas or suppositories.u00a0
It is also an ideal method for enti – emetics, or patients with swallowing problems.
