Administration of drugs Administration routes and pharmaceutical form Tea Baršić Mirna Kudlač Mentor: A. Žmegač Horvat

Methods of administering drugs oral administration sublingual administration rectal administration parenteral administration inhalation topical application

Oral administration by mouth form: tablets capsules syrups

Pros & Cons convenient for the patient can be done at home possible destruction or inactivation possibly not absorbable useless in emergency

Sublingual administration under the tongue absorption into sublingual veins form: tablets example: nitroglycerin

Rectal administration into the rectum when vomiting or unable to swallow form: suppositories aqueous solutions

Parenteral administration intracavitary intradermal intramuscular intrathecal intravenous iubcutaneous form: injections

Intracavitary injection into a body cavity (e.g. peritoneal, pleural) example: nitrogen mustard (intrapleural, prevents fluid accumulation)

Intradermal injection shallow into upper layers of skin example: allergy testing

Intramuscular injection into muscle (buttock or upper arm) when irritating to skin when large amounts of long-acting drug needed example: adrenaline

Intrathecal injection into space under meninges surrounding spinal cord & brain example: methotrexate (in leukemia)

Intravenous injection into a vein for immediate effect when unsafe for other tissues good technical skill needed (leakage may cause irritation & inflammation) example: heparin

Subcutaneous injection into subcutaneous tissue (usually upper arm, thigh, abdomen) example: insulin

Inhalation into nose or mouth absorbed through alveoli form: aerosols example: anesthetics, antiasthmatics

Topical application locally on skin or mucous membranes form: lotions creams ointments transdermal patches eyedrops, eardrops, nasal drops

References Handout Rang, Dale, Ritter, Moore: Pharmacology, 1 st Croatian edition Thank you!