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Questions and Answers
What is a major benefit of transdermal diffusion over oral administration?
What is a limitation of transdermal diffusion?
What is an advantage of rectal administration over oral administration?
What is a disadvantage of rectal administration?
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What is a potential risk associated with transdermal diffusion?
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What is a benefit of transdermal diffusion in terms of patient compliance?
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Which route of administration allows a drug to diffuse into the capillary network and enter the systemic circulation directly?
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What is the primary advantage of using the parenteral route for drug administration?
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Which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of the parenteral route?
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Which route of administration is used for drugs that are poorly absorbed from the GI tract?
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What is the most common parenteral route of administration?
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Which of the following is a disadvantage of the intravenous route?
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What is an advantage of intramuscular administration compared to subcutaneous administration?
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Which route of administration is effective for patients with respiratory complaints, such as asthma or COPD?
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What is the purpose of intrathecal administration?
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What is the primary advantage of topical application?
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Which factor affects the rate of absorption in subcutaneous administration?
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What is a potential disadvantage of intramuscular administration?
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What type of drug is typically used in inhalation therapy?
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What is the primary advantage of inhalation therapy compared to intravenous administration?
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Study Notes
Transdermal Route
- Passive diffusion of drugs across the skin driven by concentration gradient
- Potential benefits: controlled release of drug, steady blood-level profile, user-friendly, convenient, painless, multi-day dosing, improved patient compliance, bypasses GI irritation and partial first-pass inactivation by the liver
- Limitations/risks: skin barrier limits the number of drugs that can be delivered, potential skin irritation, discomfort
Rectal Route
- Prevents destruction of drug by intestinal enzymes or low pH in the stomach
- Bypasses the portal circulation, minimizing biotransformation of drugs by the liver
- Useful for patients who induce vomiting when given orally, are already vomiting, or are unconscious
- Disadvantages: discomfort, inconvenience, and many drugs irritate the rectal mucosa
Subcutaneous (SC) Route
- Advantages: slow absorption, can be used as a depot, rate of absorption can be modified by altering blood flow
- Disadvantages: of little value in peripheral circulatory failure (shock), only small volumes can be accommodated
Intramuscular (IM) Route
- Advantages: more rapid absorption than SC, rate of absorption can be modified by altering blood flow
- Disadvantages: potential infection and/or nerve damage, danger of inadvertent IV administration
Factors Affecting Absorption
- Injection site (blood supply)
- Tissue damage, bruise, less muscle volume
- Others: massage, warm compress, vasodilatation drugs
Inhalation Route
- Provides rapid delivery of a drug across the large surface area of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and pulmonary epithelium
- Used for drugs that are gases or those that can be dispersed in an aerosol (e.g., albuterol, corticosteroids)
- Effective and convenient for patients with respiratory complaints (e.g., asthma, COPD)
Intrathecal/Intraventricular Route
- Directly introduces drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid
- Used for treating conditions such as cryptococcal meningitis (e.g., amphotericin B)
Topical Route
- Used when a local effect of the drug is desired
- Examples: clotrimazole for dermatophytosis, tropicamide or cyclopentolate for dilating the pupil and measuring refractive errors
Sublingual Route
- Placement under the tongue allows a drug to diffuse into the capillary network and enter the systemic circulation directly
- Advantages: rapid absorption, convenience of administration, low incidence of infection, avoidance of first-pass metabolism
- Disadvantages: drug taste
Parenteral Route
- Directly introduces drugs across the body's barrier defences into the systemic circulation or other vascular tissue
- Used for drugs that are poorly absorbed from the GI tract (e.g., heparin) and for agents that are unstable in the GI tract (e.g., insulin)
- Used for treatment of unconscious patients and under circumstances that require a rapid onset of action
- Advantages: highest bioavailability, not subject to first-pass metabolism or harsh GI environments
- Disadvantages: irreversible, may cause pain, fear, and infections
Intravenous (IV) Route
- Most common Parenteral route
- Advantages: avoids the GI tract and therefore, first-pass metabolism by the liver, rapid effect and a maximal degree of control over the circulating levels of the drug
- Disadvantages: pain, sepsis, thrombosis, infiltration, anaphylaxis, phlebitis
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