Parenteral Route Examples: Drug Administration Quiz and Flashcards

What is the main advantage of giving a drug by IV infusion?

What are the examples of parenteral routes of drug administration?

Why is IV infusion preferred for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window?

What does the plasma drug concentration-time curve of a drug given by constant IV infusion show?

How does IV infusion of drugs, such as antibiotics, benefit patients?

Explain why the rate of drug entering the body is equal to the rate of drug leaving the body at steady state in IV infusion.

What does dCp/dt equal at steady state in terms of plasma drug concentration?

In the one-compartment model for drugs, what is the equation representing the change in the amount of drug in the body during infusion?

What is the equation that gives the plasma drug concentration at any time during IV infusion in the one-compartment model?

What does the steady-state drug concentration (Css) equal in terms of infusion rate, volume of distribution, and elimination rate constant?

At infinite time during IV infusion, what value does e^(-kt) approach, and what does Equation 6.2 reduce to?

What is the relationship between the rate of drug leaving the body and the rate of drug entering the body at steady state?

Routes of Administration

Drugs can be administered through oral, topical, parenteral, or other routes.
Parenteral routes include intravenous, subcutaneous, and intramuscular administration.

Intravenous (IV) Administration

IV drug solutions can be administered as a bolus dose (all at once) or infused slowly into the plasma at a constant rate (zero order).
IV infusion allows for precise control of plasma drug concentrations, fitting individual patient needs.
It maintains a constant plasma drug concentration, eliminating fluctuations between peak and trough levels.

Advantages of IV Infusion

Suitable for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window (e.g., heparin).
Can be administered with IV fluids containing electrolytes and nutrients.
The duration of drug therapy can be maintained or terminated as needed.

Plasma Drug Concentration-Time Curve

The curve shows the rise of drug levels from zero to a steady-state concentration.
At steady state, the rate of drug leaving the body equals the rate of drug entering the body.

One-Compartment Model

The pharmacokinetics of a drug given by constant IV infusion follow a zero-order input process.
Elimination of the drug from the plasma is a first-order process.
The infused drug follows zero-order input and first-order output.

Pharmacokinetic Equations

The change in the amount of drug in the body (dDB/dt) is the rate of input minus the rate of output.
The plasma drug concentration at any time during the IV infusion is described by Equation 6.2.
The steady-state drug concentration (Css) is described by Equation 6.4.

Steady-State Drug Concentration (Css)

At infinite time, the steady-state drug concentration is reached, where the rate of drug leaving the body equals the rate of drug entering the body.
The body clearance, Cl, is equal to VDk, and Css is equal to R/Cl.

Test your knowledge on the various parenteral routes of drug administration, including intravenous, subcutaneous, and intramuscular methods. Learn about the differences between bolus dose injections and IV infusion for drug delivery.