Several Routes of Administering
Medications Gives You Choices

Several Routes of Administering Medications Gives You Choices

No one likes to take medication, but unfortunately sometimes we must take our medication in order to feel better.

There are several different ways that medications can be given that are referred to as "routes of administration".

There are advantages and disadvantages to the different routes.

The routes of administrating medication are:

* Giving a medication by mouth (orally).

* Giving a medication by transdermal preparation.

* Subcutaneous administration

* Intravenous preparation

* Intramuscular administration is usually by injection

* Epidural is usually by catheter

* Sublingual is under the tongue

* Rectal is one of the least favorite routes of medication administration

Oral medications are commonly used when individuals need pain relief, vitamins, laxatives, allergy relief, and antibiotics.

Many over-the-counter medications use an oral route of administration because it is widely accepted, and easy to take. Oral medications can be flavored to make them more appealing and acceptable especially to the younger patients.

Drugs that are commonly administered by transdermal delivery are: estrogen, nicotine, nitroglycerin, and also scopolamine. The administration is usually done using "patches".

Many medications used to treat infertility are given subcutaneously. The injections are easy and take about 10 minutes or less to accomplish.

Many medications are administered by intravenous route (IV) such as antibiotics.

Intramuscular (IM) medications are given by injection into the muscle. Morphine and pentobarbital are examples of two medications that are given by this route.

Pain medication can be given by way of an epidural such as during childbirth.

Drugs And Depression These non-prescription drugs are also called, “over-the-counter drugs”, because they do not require a prescription to purchase. Some of these medications may have at one time been a prescription drug, but are not available without a prescription. Some over-the-counter-drugs that are popular are those used as pain relievers, or for reducing fever. Drugs and Medicine

 

A sublingual medication is one that is given under the tongue where it usually dissolves and is absorbed.

Rectal medications are made specifically to be inserted into the rectum. They can be in the form of an enema, creams, lotions, and ointments or by applicator.

The medication can be a semi-solid, or a suppository. Some seizure medication is given rectally.

Medications Drugs If there is family history of medication allergies you are more likely to develop a medication allergy. Make sure you tell your pharmacist about your medication allergy. A medication allergy is caused by an over-sensitive immune system. The individual with a medication allergy has an immune system that attacks the medication as if it were a harmful substance. Drugs and Medicine

The reason for different routes of administration of medication is because some medication cannot be absorbed through the stomach, other medications need to be inhaled as in asthma mediations and others use the fastest route such as intravenously.

The route is determined by the absorption need, the best way to give relief, and the type of medication.

Many cancer medications can only be given intravenously, and others are installed in the bladder or intra peritoneal instillation.

Skin diseases are often treated by absorption through the skin such as creams and lotions.

Topical medications can be epicutaneous (applied to the skin), or done by skin prick like when doing a allergy testing, local anesthesia is also administered topically.

Enteral is a form of administering medication via the gastrointestinal tract (mouth, gastric feeding tube, or rectally.

Parenteral or by injection or infusion is how many vasodilator drugs, vaccines, and drugs used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation are given. The nicotine patch is a transdermal administration, which falls under the parenteral category.

Epidural and inhalation medications are special medications because they are delivered in special body cavities (spinal/lungs).

Sometimes the route of delivering a medication depends on the target of the medication: is it going to affect the brain?

Is the target of the medication the lungs?

Does the medication have a systemic effect on the body (more than one body system)?