Routes of Administration in Pharmacology

Routes of Administration

• Enteral: Through the gastrointestinal tract (GI)
  • Oral (PO): Tablets, capsules, solutions, suspensions
  • Sublingual (SL): Under the tongue
  • Buccal (BU): Between the cheek and gum
  • Rectal (PR): Suppositories
• Parenteral: Outside the GI tract
  • Intravenous (IV): Directly into a vein
  • Intramuscular (IM): Into a muscle
  • Subcutaneous (SC): Into the fatty tissue beneath the skin
  • Intradermal (ID): Into the skin
  • Intrathecal (IT): Into the spinal canal
  • Epidural (EP): Into the space outside the spinal sac

Factors Affecting Drug Administration

• Patient factors:
  • Age
  • Weight
  • Body surface area
  • Renal and hepatic function
  • Allergies and sensitivities
• Drug factors:
  • Pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
  • Pharmacodynamics (mechanism of action)
  • Dose and dosage form
  • Interactions with other drugs
• Environmental factors:
  • Temperature
  • Humidity
  • Lighting

Methods of Drug Administration

• Solutions: Liquid preparations containing the active drug
• Suspensions: Liquid preparations containing undissolved particles
• Emulsions: Mixtures of two or more liquids
• Ointments: Semi-solid preparations for topical application
• Inhalers: Devices delivering medication directly to the lungs
• Patches: Transdermal delivery systems
• Implants: Small devices inserted under the skin for sustained release

Dosage Forms

• Solid: Tablets, capsules, powders
• Liquid: Solutions, suspensions, emulsions
• Semi-solid: Ointments, creams, gels
• Gaseous: Inhalers, anesthetics

Drug Administration Devices

• Syringes: For injecting medications
• Infusion devices: For delivering medications through IV lines
• Pumps: For administering medications through IV lines or other routes
• Inhalers: For delivering medications directly to the lungs
• Auto-injectors: For self-administration of medications in emergency situations

Routes of Administration

• Enteral administration occurs through the gastrointestinal tract (GI)
• Oral (PO) administration involves tablets, capsules, solutions, and suspensions
• Sublingual (SL) administration involves placing medication under the tongue
• Buccal (BU) administration involves placing medication between the cheek and gum
• Rectal (PR) administration involves using suppositories

Parenteral Administration

• Intravenous (IV) administration involves direct injection into a vein
• Intramuscular (IM) administration involves injecting medication into a muscle
• Subcutaneous (SC) administration involves injecting medication into the fatty tissue beneath the skin
• Intradermal (ID) administration involves injecting medication into the skin
• Intrathecal (IT) administration involves injecting medication into the spinal canal
• Epidural (EP) administration involves injecting medication into the space outside the spinal sac

Factors Affecting Drug Administration

• Patient factors influencing drug administration include age, weight, body surface area, renal and hepatic function, and allergies and sensitivities
• Drug factors include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, dose, dosage form, and interactions with other drugs
• Environmental factors include temperature, humidity, and lighting

Methods of Drug Administration

• Solutions are liquid preparations containing the active drug
• Suspensions are liquid preparations containing undissolved particles
• Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids
• Ointments are semi-solid preparations for topical application
• Inhalers deliver medication directly to the lungs
• Patches involve transdermal delivery systems
• Implants are small devices inserted under the skin for sustained release

Dosage Forms

• Solid dosage forms include tablets, capsules, and powders
• Liquid dosage forms include solutions, suspensions, and emulsions
• Semi-solid dosage forms include ointments, creams, and gels
• Gaseous dosage forms include inhalers and anesthetics

Drug Administration Devices

• Syringes are used for injecting medications
• Infusion devices deliver medications through IV lines
• Pumps administer medications through IV lines or other routes
• Inhalers deliver medications directly to the lungs
• Auto-injectors are used for self-administration of medications in emergency situations