Pharmacology: Drug Administration Routes

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary advantage of using the intravenous route for drug administration?

It is suitable for long-term medication.

It causes less pain compared to other routes.

It produces a very fast onset of action. (correct)

It provides a slow onset of action.

Which route is known for a slower but prolonged onset of action, particularly when the drug is formulated in suspension or oily form?

Intramuscular Route (correct)

Intrathecal Route

Intravenous Route

Subcutaneous Route

In which route are small volumes, typically 0.1 – 0.2 ml, injected primarily for the diagnosis of allergy and immunity?

Intra-articular Route

Intravenous Route

Intradermal Route (correct)

Intra-arterial Route

Which parenteral route involves injecting medication directly into the synovial fluid of a joint?

Intra-articular Route Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of intra-spinal injections?

Administration of spinal anesthetics. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of the oral route of administration?

Self-administration is possible Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the oral route of drug administration?

Absorption can be irregular Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable characteristic of drugs administered via the buccal route?

They avoid the first pass effect Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can negatively impact the absorption of oral medications?

Presence of enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract Signup and view all the answers

Which route of administration allows for very fast onset of action?

Sublingual route Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary indication for using the buccal route of administration?

To avoid the first pass effect Signup and view all the answers

What could occur if a drug is retained in the stomach for too long?

Drug inactivation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the sublingual route is false?

It provides long duration of action. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of the rectal route of drug administration?

Allows for systemic and local effects Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about drug administration via the vaginal route?

Drugs are absorbed more efficiently than through the rectum Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of the inhalation route of drug administration?

It is primarily used for respiratory conditions Signup and view all the answers

What type of formulations are commonly used in the topical route of drug administration?

Ointments and creams Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the parenteral route of drug administration?

Requires the use of injection techniques Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant characteristic of topical drug formulations?

They generally target local effects on the skin Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about bioavailability is accurate in the context of the rectal route?

Some drugs may undergo first pass metabolism Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial advantage of using the inhalation route for drug delivery?

It allows for quick and efficient absorption Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction

A drug is an agent used for diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of disease in humans or animals.
A successful therapeutic response occurs when a drug reaches the receptor site in sufficient concentration to exert its pharmacological action.
Drug absorption into body tissues from the administration site depends on the required action (local or systemic) and speed of response.

The Oral Route

Used for systemic or local effects.
Drugs are administered in solid or liquid form.
Absorption occurs in the gastrointestinal tract (G.I.T.).
Advantages: Simplest, self-administration possible, safest.
Disadvantages: Onset of action is slow, absorption is irregular, certain drugs are destroyed by enzymes/secretions in the G.I.T., drug solubility can be affected by substances like calcium, slow gastric emptying can cause drug inactivation, unsuitable for unconscious/vomiting patients.

The Buccal Route

Drugs are administered as tablets.
High vascularity of the tongue and buccal cavity, and saliva presence facilitate drug dissolution.
Tablets formulated for this route provide a quick onset of action.
Advantages: Relatively quick onset, direct absorption into systemic circulation (avoiding first-pass effect), suitable for unconscious patients, suitable for antiemetic drugs.

The Sublingual Route

Absorption occurs under the tongue.
Provides a very fast onset of action, but duration is typically short.

The Rectal Route

Drugs are administered as liquids (enemas), solids (suppositories), or semisolids (creams/ointments).
Used for both systemic and local effects.
Some drugs absorbed in the rectum bypass the liver (first-pass effect), thus bioavailability may be less than 100%.
Advantages: Useful when oral route is unsuitable (e.g., vomiting, unconscious patients), suitable for patients with G.I.T. irritation, can be used for local action.
Disadvantages: Absorption can be irregular, less convenient than oral route, low patient acceptability.

The Vaginal Route

Drugs are administered as pessaries, tablets, creams, ointments, or vaginal douches.
Used for both local and systemic effects.
Advantages: Drugs avoid the first-pass effect. Higher fluid content in the vagina leads to more efficient drug dissolution than the rectal route.

The Inhalation Route

Drugs are inhaled through the nose or mouth.
Used primarily for respiratory conditions, delivering drugs directly to the lungs.
Advantages: Lower drug dose required for systemic effect compared to oral route, reduced side effects.

The Topical Route

Skin is used as the administration site.
Primarily for local effects.
Formulations include ointments, creams, pastes, lotions, and recently developed transdermal patches (for systemic effects).

The Parenteral Route

This describes drug administration via injection.
Various routes include:
Intravenous (IV): Direct injection into the systemic circulation, very fast onset of action.
Intramuscular (IM): Injection into muscle tissue, relatively fast onset of action, especially with liquid formulations; slower/prolonged action possible with suspensions or oily forms.
Subcutaneous (SC): Injection beneath the skin, easiest/least painful injection, slower onset of action, but prolonged action (e.g., insulin injections).
Intradermal (ID): Injection into the skin between the dermis and epidermis, small volumes, often used for allergy testing and immunizations.
Intra-arterial: Injection into an artery, primarily used for diagnostic purposes (e.g., X-ray contrast).
Intra-spinal: Injection into the subarachnoid space, peridural space, or cisterna magna, used for spinal anesthetics.
Intra-articular: Injection into the synovial fluid of a joint, used for localized corticosteroid administration for anti-inflammatory purposes.

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Description

This quiz covers the various routes of drug administration, including oral and buccal methods. It explores the advantages and disadvantages of each route, as well as factors affecting drug absorption. Test your knowledge on pharmacological responses and action mechanisms.