Question

Identify the different routes of drug administration and the purposes, advantages, and disadvantages of the different routes.

Answer 1

Drug is a substance helps in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diasease.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF DRUGS

1. Capsules - soild dosage forms of drug for oral usage
2. Lotion - Liquid suspension applied externally
3. Solution - Liquid preparation that may used orally, parenterally or externally.
4. Suppository - Solid dosage form mixed with gelatin and it has a shape of pellet form helps in isertion into body cavity.
5. Suspenssion - Drug particles dispersed in liquid medium.
6. Syrup - Medication dissolved in sugar solution and it may contain flvoring agents.
7. Tablet - Powdered dosage form compressed into hard disks or cylinders

ROUTE OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION

1. Oral administration
2. Sublingual
3. Inhalations
4. Inunctions
5. Instillation
6. Insertins
7. Implantations
8. Parenteral administrations

Oral Administration

It is the most common route of drug administration and it is the most convenient route for most patients. In oral administration the drugs are given to the patient by mouth through the alimentary tract.

Purposes.

• It is most convenient rout of drug adminsitration.
• easy absorption of the drug
• This route is easy to administer.
• Cost containment

Advantages

• This method is safe and convenient
• It is effective method.
• There is no pain whle administering the medication
• Allergic rections are very less in this method

Disadvantages

• There is slow onset of action of the drug
• There is a chance of drug interaction other drug the patient is taking and it affect the affect of the desired drug.
• There is a chance of refusal of drug by patient.
• There may be a swallowing difficulty.
• There is a chances of irritation of gastrointestinal tract.
• The drug pass quickly through the body so the desired effect may not receive by the patient.

Sublingual route

In sublingual route the drug is kept under the tongue in which, the substance diffuse into the blood through tissues under the tongue.

Purpose

• easy administration of the drug
• convenient method of administration
• easy absorption of the durg

Advantages

• the action of the medication can be terminated by spitting it out
• self administration is possible in this method.
• there is a quick onset of action

Disadvantages

• It is very inconvenient to place the drug in exact place.
• If the patient accidently swallow it reduces the effect of the drug.
• It may irritate the sores in the mouth
• There is chances of nausea and vomiting
• Application in children it is very difficult

Inhalations

In this route of drug administration, the drug is inhaled through the mouth or nose and it directly act on the respiratory system then enter into the blood circulation

Purpose

• It is helpful to treat respiratory diseases.
• easy method of administration
• This route has quick action
• It has minimal side-effects
• Less quantity of durg is enough for the action and administration

Advantages

• Amount of drug which is adminstring can be regulated easily
• Volatile drugs and gases can be administred

Disadvantages

• There is a chances or airway irritation
• It need special equipments
• It need special suppervision

Inunctions (Topical applications)

In this type of drug administration , the drug is applied to a particular place in the body. These medications are in the forms of cream, gell, lotions etc.

Purpose

• these drug can apply directly on the skin
• easy administration of the drug

Advantages

• It is an alternative to oral medication
• It have less gastrointestinal irritation
• There is less chances of drug abuse
• It is easy to apply
• It helps to reduce the croud in the hospital out patient department.

Disadvantages

• It is time consuming process of applying the medicine over the area.
• Sometimes these applications may irritate the skin of the patient
• some people have the irritation with smell of the application these makes the patient to feel uncomfortable.

Instillations

In Instillation method the durg is putt in to the body cavity such as urinary bladder or orifises such as ears, eyes nose etc. Here the drug is in the liquid form.

Purpose

• It is one of the safest route of drug administration.
• In this method the drug dont produce any adverse effects.
• The drug is not entering in the systemic circulation

Advantages

• This method is mostly prefering for the unconcious patients.
• This route helps to avoid the nausea and vomiting while administering the medication.
• This rout is very helpful if the drug is irritable.

Disadvantages

• This route is risky because once the drug is administerd it cannot take it back.
• Skill is necessary for the administration of the drug
• time consuming process

Insertions

It is the route which the drug is introducing into the body orifices in the form of solid.

Purpose

• It is very easy to administer the drug.
• less complications.

Advantages

• It is the route mostly prefering for the unconcious patients.
• Thsi rout helps to aviod nausea and vomiting
• This route is helpful if the drug is irritable.
• large quantities of drug can be used

Disadvantages

• there is chance of irregular absorption.
• some patients are not accepting this method.
• There is a chance of making irritation in rectal mucosa.
• it is inconvenient method.

Parenteral administration

Parenteral means giving the medications outside the alimentary tract.

Pupose

• to get a rapid effect of the drug
• to provide a needed affect if the patient is unconcious.
• to restore the blood volume by replacing the fluid.
• to give nourishmnet when it cannot be taken by.

Advantages

• it has a rapid action
• it is suitable for irritant drugs
• it is useful for uncoperative patients
• it is suitable for the drugs not absorbe orally

Disadvantages

• this method is expensive
• This method need sterilixzation and aseptic techniques
• this method cannot administered self.
• this method can cause local injuries, nerve damage etc.
• sepecial equipement s are needed
• time consuming process
• special skills are needed for the performance of the procedure.

Some important route of parenteral administrations are,

1. Intramuscular route : into the muscle

Advantages

• rapid absorption of the drug compared than oral route
• mild irritant medications can be given to this route.

Disadvantages

• this procedure is painful
• aseptic techniques are needed
• self adinistratio is not ppossible
• nerve injury can occur

2. Intravenous route : into the vein

Advantages

• quick action
• large volume of fluid can be administred
• high irritant medications can be administerd
• hypertonic solutions can be administered

Disadvantages

• once the medication is injected it cant be taken back
• there is chances of phlebitis
• self administration is not possible
• strict aseptic condition are needed

3. Subcutaneous route : Into the subcutaneous tissue

Advantages

• Oily solution can be given through this route
• self administratio is possible

Disadvantages

• irritants drugs can not be administred through this route
• less amount of volume can be administered
• slow absorption rate

4. Intradermal route : into the dermis

Advantages

• helps in testing allergies

Disadvantages

• very small amount of drug can be administered