Routes of Administration

• Term: Oral

  Site: Mouth
• Term: Per Oral (Per os)

  Site: Gastrointestinal tract via mouth
• Term: Sublingual

  Site: Under the tongue
• Term: Parenteral

  Site: Other than the gastrointestinal tract (by injection)
• Term: Intravenous

  Site: Vein
• Term: Intra-arterial

  Site: Artery
• Term: Intracardiac

  Site: heart
• Term: Intraspinal or intrathecal

  Site: spine
• Term: Intraosseous

  Site: Bone
• Term: Intra-articular

  Site: joint
• Term: Intrasynovial

  Site: joint fluid area
• Term: Intracutaneous or intradermal

  Site: skin
• Term: Subcutaneous

  Site: Beneath the skin
• Term: Intramuscular

  Site: Muscle
• Term: Epicutaneous (topical)

  Site: skin surface
• Term: transdermal

  Site: skin surface
• Term: conjuctival

  Site: conjuctiva
• Term: intraocular

  Site: eye
• Term: intranasal

  Site: nose
• Term: aural

  Site: ear
• Term: Intrarespiratory

  Site: lungs
• Term: rectal

  Site: rectum
• Term: vaginal

  Site: vagina
• Local effects

  • achieved by direct application of the drug to the desired site of action
• Systemic Effects

  • achieved by the entrance of the drug into the circulatory system and transport to the cellular site of its action
  • may be placed directly into the bloodstream (via IV) or absorbed into the venous circulation (oral, etc.)
• Onset, peak, and duration

  • rapid onset of action - Sublingual, IV, buccal
  • slower onsets but longer duration - oral topical ointment, topical patch
• Absorption

  • with first-pass effect - oral
  • without first-pass effect - IV, IM, SL
• Metabolites

  • Active - tailored to the desired therapeutic effect
  • Inactive - larger oral dose
• Oral

  • tablets
  • capsules
  • solutions
  • syrups
  • elixir
  • suspensions
  • magmas
  • gels
  • powders
• Sublingual

  • tablets
  • troches
  • lozenges
  • drops (solution)
• Parenteral

  • Solutions
  • suspensions
• Epicutaneous, Transdermal

  • ointments, gels
  • creams
  • infusion pumps
  • fastes
  • plasters
  • powders
  • aerosols
  • lotions
  • transdermal patches, disks, solutions
• Conjunctival

  • contact lens inserts
  • ointments
• Intraocular, Intra-aural

  • solutions
  • suspensions
• Intranasal

  • solutions
  • sprays
  • inhalants
  • ointments
• Intrarespiratory

  • aerosols
• Rectal

  • solutions
  • ointments
  • suppositories
  • gels
• Vaginal

  • solutions
  • ointments
  • emulsion forms
  • gels
  • tablets
  • inserts, suppositories, sponge
• Urethral

  • solutions
  • suppositories
• oral route

  • most frequent
  • most are swallowed for systemic effect
  • antacids are swallowed for local effects
  • most natural, uncomplicated, convenient, and safe
  • disadvantages:
  • slow drug response
  • chance of irregular absorption of drugs
  • destruction by the acid reaction of the stomach or GI enzymes