Saturday, January 30, 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of parenteral route of drug administration

The parenteral route of administration provides numerous advantages, such as improved bioavailability, avoidance of the first-pass metabolism, and reliable dosing, however, it also has some limitations. Let’s check them.

Medicines are more effective when they reach the site. Different routes are used to deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to the patient and the route used depends on the site of action and the patient's compliance. The parenteral route of drug administration is commonly used by doctors to treat patients, generally, this means directly related to injecting into the body. As compared to oral administration it has control over the rate and dose of the medication, thus generating more predictive pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles.
The parenteral medications have four routes such as intravenous (in a vein), intramuscular (in a muscle), subcutaneous (under the skin), intradermal (under the epidermis), and each has needs administer properly by the specific skill.

Advantages of the parenteral route of drug administration:

  • The major advantage of the parenteral route of drug administration is that it can provide a rapid onset of action and rapid absorption of the drug.
  • The parenteral route is suitable for those drugs that are poor absorption in the GIT, not orally effective or are destroyed by digestive secretions.
  • Compared to other routes, it provides precise and accurate dosage.
  • It requires a low amount of drugs as compared with solid/liquid oral dosage form (tablets, capsules, powders, caplets, solution, emulsion, and suspension).
  • It has faster and more predictable bioavailability.
  • It has no risk of degradation of the drug by the digestive system as it bypasses the digestive tract through the injection.
  • It is suitable for the unconscious, uncooperative patient as compared to other routes.
  • There is no issue with the drugs having an unpleasant taste, odor, and color since it directly injected using a syringe and needle.

Disadvantages of the parenteral route of drug administration:

  • The major disadvantage of the parenteral route of drug administration is that it is used for the rapid onset of action, not used for sustained, prolonged, and extended-release of the drug.
  • The formulation, manufacture, and packaging of parenteral dosage forms are more expensive than other routes.
  • Pain on injection is inevitable, so elderly and child patients avoid taking.
  • When proper precautions are not taken, it can cause infection and tissue damage.
  • Not all parenteral routes are self-administered, requiring trained personnel for administration.
  • Only soluble drugs are possible to formulate in parenteral medication.
Commonly asked questions on the route of drug administration are as follows.

Which method of administering drugs is the most rapid-acting?
The intravenous (IV) route is the precise and controlled way of medication that provides the rapid action of the drug.

What are the different routes of drug administration?
The buccal route, inhalation route, nasal route, ocular route, oral route, otic route, rectal route, sublingual route, transdermal route, and vaginal route are some of the major routes of drug administration that are commonly used.

How is the route of administration of medication determined?
The different routes are usually classified by the site to which the medication is applied or where the action is aimed.

References:

  • Kwatra, S., Taneja, G. and Nasa, N. (2012). Alternative Routes of Drug Administration- Transdermal, Pulmonary & Parenteral. Indo Global Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2(4): 409-426
  • "The Administration of Medicines". Nursing Practice Clinical Zones: Prescribing. NursingTimes.net. 2007. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  • Raj, G. and Raveendran, R. (2019). Introduction to Basics of Pharmacology and Toxicology Volume 1: General and Molecular Pharmacology: Principles of Drug Action. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.


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Thursday, January 28, 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of subcutaneous route of drug administration

The subcutaneous route of drug administration is more commonly used than intramuscular administration since it offers several advantages such as simplicity of the injection method however, it has some disadvantages also, let’s check them.

The medicines are only effective when they reach the site of action due to this there are different rout is used for drug administration. Drug administration by parenteral (injection) includes intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous which is the most frequently used injection route in drug administration.
The subcutaneous route is one of the most flexible routes of drug administration, which can be used for short-term as well as long-term treatments. In subcutaneous injection, a small needle is used to inject medicine into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle.

Advantages of the subcutaneous route of drug administration:

  • The major advantage of the subcutaneous route of drug administration is that it is a simple and less expensive method.
  • The subcutaneous injection can provide long-term effects of the drug as it has slow adsorption.
  • Compare to the intravenous and intramuscular route, the subcutaneous injection has less pain.
  • It is an effective and widely used method for the treatment of skin infections.
  • It is convenient for the patient in comparison to various parenteral administrations, as anytime and anywhere we can self-injected.
  • No trained personnel are required, as self-administration is possible.

Disadvantages of the subcutaneous route of drug administration:

  • The major disadvantage of the subcutaneous route of drug administration is that it only for the small dosage of drugs.
  • Irritating drugs can cause skin damage.
  • Subcutaneous injection is a painful method so some patients, especially older ones and children, avoid taking it.
  • There is slower drug absorption than the intravenous route.
  • The subcutaneous route is more expensive than the oral route of drug administration.
Commonly asked questions on the route of drug administration are as follows.

What are the major routes of drug administration?
Oral, parenteral, sublingual, buccal, rectal, inhalation, topical and transdermal is some of the major routes of drug administration that are commonly used.

What is the advantage of the subcutaneous route over the intravenous route of drug administration?
The major advantage of subcutaneous over the intravenous route is that the subcutaneous can provide a long-term effect which is not possible by the intravenous route it provides a rapid onset of action.

Why are medications given subcutaneously?
The subcutaneous injection can be used to deliver a variety of medications however it is mostly used in the treatment of skin infections, allergy, and diabetes.
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Monday, January 25, 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of intravenous route of drug administration

The intravenous route (IV) is one of the most preferred routes in the parenteral route of drug administration because it offers many advantages compared to other routes.

Medicines are only effective when they reach the site of action, so a variety of routes are used to introduce the active ingredient into the body which is according to the site of action and patient convenience. The routes of drug administration are classified into local routes and systemic routes; they are intended for the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of different diseases and disorders.
Administration of a drug via the intravenous route involves the introduction of a drug solution directly into the vein by the use of a needle. It is a method that delivers the drug accurately and rapidly which is more significant in the treatment of different diseases, as the medicine directly enters the systemic circulation without delay associated with absorption processes, it achieves its therapeutic effect more rapidly than any other route.
Advantages of intravenous route of drug administration:
  • The major advantage of the intravenous route of drug administration is that it is one of the techniques that offer quick onset of action.
  • Using the intravenous route of drug administration the medications can be delivered at a uniform rate with reproducible effects.
  • Provides convenience to the patient, it does not need to swallow such as solid oral dosage form (tablets, capsules).
  • This route provides 100%, bioavailability, as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) usually reaches the site of action lacking suffering any changes because of pre-systemic effects.
  • It is suitable for all kinds of patients such as the unconscious, elder, and child.
  • It does not harm the digestive system since it bypasses them.
  • It has no issue related to unpleasant odor and taste, as it is injected directly in vain.
  • The drug reaches the bloodstream immediately throughout the body and, therefore rapid action is produced makes it the most efficient.
  • It provides the distribution of the exact amount of the drug.
  • Drugs administered by the IV route bypass first-pass metabolism.
  • When a large amount of the medication is required, it can be administered in the form of liquids using an intravenous route.
Disadvantages of intravenous route of drug administration:
  • The major disadvantage of intravenous route of drug administration is that self-medication is not possible which requires a trained person.
  • Only highly soluble drugs are used in the formulation of IV.
  • It only works for rapid release of the drug, not for sustained, prolonged, or controlled-release.
  • This is a painful technique that many patients avoid using.
  • There are possibilities of nausea, vomiting, itching, and/or constipation due to side effects.
  • Cannulation can trouble for some patients, particularly children.
  • There is a risk of infection overdose, and arterial damage compared to other routes of drug administration.
  • It has a high probability of bacterial contamination, therefore aseptic conditions are necessary.
  • As compared with other routes, the intravenous route of drug administration is more costly and labor-intensive.
Commonly asked questions on different routes of drug administration are as follows.

What are the common injectable routes of administration?
The medication administration by injection (parenteral) includes intravenous (in a vein), subcutaneous (under the skin), intramuscular (in a muscle), and intrathecal (around the spinal cord).

What are the different routes of administration?
Different routes of drug administration are used as per the site of action include oral route, Injection/ parenteral route, inhalation route/ pulmonary route, otic route, sublingual/ buccal route, mucosal route, and ophthalmic route routes of administration, etc.

What is the most common route of administration? 
The oral route is the most common route of administration since it is cost-effective and more convenient to the patient.
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Thursday, January 21, 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of different routes of drug administration

Medications are effective just when they reach their site of action so different routes of drug administration are used to produce systemic effects, they provide significant advantages and have some disadvantages that depend on the requirement and way of drug administration.

The route of drug administration is the route by which a drug is delivered or taken or inserted into the body to cure, prevent, diagnose or treatment of various disorders and diseases. The routes of drug administration are classified into local routes and systemic routes. The local route is the simplest method of drug administration at the site where preferred action of the drug is required, and in systemic routes, medication is usually administered using two major routes, i.e. enteral route and paternal route.
The advantages and disadvantages of different routes of drug administration are as follows.

1. Oral route of drug administration: 

The drug is taken by mouth in oral administration; it is one of the most commonly used drugs since it is the most economical and convenient way of drug administration. The oral medication consists of powders, tablets, capsules, caplets, granules, and suspension or liquid. 
Advantages: 
The oral route is simple and convenient for patients
Ready-to-use, and can be self-administered
It is cheaper and painless
It can be formulated with different types, different size, and shapes
Oral dosage forms can be formulated as sustained, controlled, or delayed-release
Disadvantages:
It has a slow onset of action, so it has limitations in the use of an emergency
Solid oral medications can be difficult to swallow, especially in children and elderly patients
It is not suitable for unconscious patients and patients with severe diarrhea and vomiting

2. Buccal and sublingual route of drug administration:

Buccal administration is where the dosage form is placed between gums and cheeks so that the drug can be dissolved and get absorbed into the blood. In sublingual administration, the dosage form is placed under the tongue to dissolve and absorb the drug.
Advantages: 
Buccal and sublingual administration provide a rapid onset of action
It is a simple way and self-administration of medication is possible
It bypasses the first-pass metabolism
Large amounts of saliva are not required to achieve dissolution of the active drug component (API)
Disadvantages:
It is not suitable for the drugs that have an unpleasant taste and odor, irritant and lipid-soluble drugs
It works only for small doses, not for high drug dosing
It is not convenient for all patients
The patient need to refrain from drinking, talking, and spitting it may affect the dose

3. Rectal route of drug administration:

In this route of administration, to produce local or systemic effects of the drug the rectum is used as a route of administration. The rectum is the ending portion of the large intestine that can be used for drug delivery and the drugs can be in suppository or liquid form.
Advantages:
Increases the bioavailability of the drug by avoiding the metabolism of both enteric and first-pass hepatic elimination
A high concentration of drug can rapidly be achieved
It is useful in case of vomiting, nausea, and inability to swallow
The rate of drug absorption cannot affect by food or gastric emptying
Disadvantages:
Most patients feel uncomfortable, so it is not well accepted
It has unpredictable and slow absorption of the medication
In some cases, inflammation and irritation of the rectal mucus may occur.

4. Inhalation route of drug administration:

The inhalation route of drug administration involves the administration of a drug in the form of aerosol, gas, or fine powder through the respiratory tract.
Advantages:
It provides rapid onset of action almost as fast as with IV.
It delivers the drug to the disease target site in the treatment of pulmonary and non-pulmonary diseases
It is an easy and effective way for those patients who have trouble breathing
The inhalation route requires a minimum dose of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)
Disadvantages:
Not all drugs are suitable for the formulation with this technique
Difficult to regulate the exact amount of drug
Drugs and excipients that have an unpleasant taste and odor are difficult to formulate

5. Topical route of drug administration:

In the topical/transdermal route of drug administration, the drug is applied on the surface of the skin in the form of lotions, liniments, patches, sprays, gels, and creams.
Advantages:
It provides high levels of patient satisfaction
It is convenient and easy to apply on-site
Small amounts of active ingredient are required
It avoids gastrointestinal incompatibility
Disadvantages:
The drugs that have high molecular weight and are poorly lipid-soluble are unable to absorbed by the skin or mucous membranes
As compared to other routes of drug administration it has a very slow absorption
Local skin irritation may be possible at the site of application

6. Intravenous route of drug administration:

As the name indicated, this method is used to deliver the medication directly into the vein using a syringe.
Advantages:
It is one of the methods that provide quick onset of action
Drugs with a highly irritant, unpleasant taste, and odor can be given
It provides 100% bioavailability
The large volume of medication in the form of fluid can be administered
Does not harm the digestive system because it bypasses them
Disadvantages:
Increased risk of overdose, infection, and arterial damage
Trained person is required for medication
It is a painful method
Only highly soluble drugs are used

7. Intramuscular route of drug administration:

The intramuscular route is a technique used to deliver a medication deep into the muscles.
Advantages:
Intramuscular is a less painful method than other parenteral routes of drug administration
It is also a good option for those who cannot take the drugs by the oral route.
Rapid and uniform absorption of the drug is possible
Disadvantages:
Self-administration is not possible
Large amounts of the drug cannot be administered by it
Aseptic conditions desirable while giving the medication
Nerve injury can happen


8. Subcutaneous route of drug administration:

In subcutaneous medication, a small needle is used to inject a drug into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle. 
Advantages:
It is a widely used and effective route of administration in skin infections
It can provide prolong the effect of the drug as it has slow adsorption
Self-administration is possible
It has less pain compared to the intravenous and intramuscular route
Disadvantages:
The absorption of the drug is slower than the intravenous route
It is not appropriate for non-irritant drugs
Useful only for 1-2 ml, large quantities cannot be injected


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Monday, January 18, 2021

Different routes of drug administration

Medications are effective only when they reach the site of action, hence the different types of routes are used to introduce the drug into the body according to the site of action and for the patient's convinced.

The route of drug administration is the route by which medication is taken into the body for treatment, diagnosis, prevention, or cure of different disorders and diseases. To produce the desired therapeutic effect of the drug, it should be contacted with the tissues of the organs and the cells of the tissues and for this, the drug should be administered appropriately.
Different types of routes of drug administration are classified into local routes and systemic routes. The local route is the easy method of drug administration on the site where the preferred action is essential, and in the systemic routes, a drug is usually administered by using two main routes such as enteral route and the parenteral route.

Different routes of drug administration:

According to the site of action, different routes of drug administration are used, they have their significant advantages and some limitations which depend on the requirement and way of drug administration. Usually, the below-mentioned routes of drug administration are used to introduce the drug into the body.

1. Oral route
2. Injection/ parenteral route
3. Inhalation route/ pulmonary route
4. Sublingual/ buccal route
5. Mucosal route
6. Otic route
7. Topical route
8. Ophthalmic route

1. Oral route of drug administration:

Several medications can be administered orally in the form of tablets, capsules, powders, granules, caplets, and liquid as it is the easiest, convenient and economic way of drug administration, hence the oral route of drug administration is the most frequently used one.

2. Injection/ parenteral route of drug administration:

Administration of the drug by parenteral (injection) includes subcutaneous (under the skin), intramuscular (in a muscle), intravenous (in a vein), and intrathecal injection (around the spinal cord). The major advantage of the parenteral route of drug administration is that it provides rapid onset of action and it does not have an issue of unpleasant taste and odor.
    A. Subcutaneous injection technique: In this type of injection, a small needle is used to inject a drug under the skin (into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle).
    B. Intramuscular injection technique: Intramuscular injection is a method used to deliver the drug to the muscle; it is used when a large amount of a drug needs to be injected.
    C. Intravenous injection technique: As indicated by the name, IV drug administration is used to deliver the drug into the patient's vein. It is one of the fastest ways to deliver medication which provides several advantages over other routes of administration.
    D. Intrathecal injection technique: Intrathecal route is useful for those drugs that act on the nervous system; it is used to inject the drug into the spinal canal or the subarachnoid space.

3. Inhalational route/ pulmonary route of drug administration:

Inhalation routes are often used to inhale drugs for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The pulmonary route of drug administration is capable of delivering the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) direct to the required site in the body which provides major advantages as compared with other routes of administration.

4. Sublingual/ buccal route of drug administration:

Sublingual and buccal are solid oral dosage forms of medicine that are administered by mouth. The sublingual route of drug administration involves a drug that is placed under the tongue and in the buccal route of drug administration involves a drug that is placed between the gums and cheeks so that they can be dissolved and can be absorbed into the blood through the tissue. Both subcutaneous and buccal drugs provide a major advantage in the treatment of acute disorders by providing rapid onset of pharmacological effects.


5. Mucosal route of drug administration: 

The mucosal route of drug administration consists of the medication by the nose, throat, vagina, rectum, ocular and oral cavity as a systemic effect arises due to good absorption through the highly vascularised mucosa of these areas. Dosage forms for mucosal application include aerosols, lozenge, nasal solutions, sublingual tablets, and sublingual tablets, etc. they provide the drug directly to the required site with minimum drug quantity.

6. Otic route of drug administration: 

The otic route of drug administration is used to treat ear infections/inflammation and it can be directly applied to the affected ears. In-ear drops the solution or suspension is usually applied only to the outer ear canal.
Routes of drug administration

7. Topical route of drug administration: 

The topical route of drug administration consists of the application of medication on the skin surface to inserting the pharmacological effect of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) on the surface/ mucous membrane / within the layers of the skin. Transdermal administration delivers medication through the skin by using liniments, creams, sprays, patches, gels, and lotions.

8. Ophthalmic route of drug administration:

The ophthalmic route of drug administration consists of the application of the medication to the eye. Drug delivery to the eye can be generally classified into posterior and anterior segments. Eye drops are available in the form of oil and water solutions, suspensions, or emulsions of one or more active ingredients.

Finally, we will conclude that the enteral roots of drug administration include oral, sublingual, and rectal. Parenteral roots of drug administration include inhalations, injections, and application to the skin and mucous membrane.  

Commonly asked questions on routes of drug administration

How is the route of administration of medication determined?
The routes of administration are usually classified by the site/location at which the active ingredient is applied or where the target of action is.

Which method of administering drugs is the most rapid-acting?
The Intravenous (IV) route of drug administration is providing the most rapid action of the medication, this is a quick and most sure and controlled way of medication.

What is the major advantage of the route of drug administration?
The advantages of the route of drug administration are that it provides drug action at the required site, it improves efficacy, convenience, and compliance of the patient.
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Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Advantages of various types of modified release dosage forms

 Modified release dosage form is a mechanism that delivers a medication after its administration or for a long time or to a specific target site in the body, it provides significant advantages over traditional dosage forms.

The oral solid dosage form is the most preferred route of administration by patients for many medications since they offer many advantages over the single unit dose form (e.g. Capsules, caplets, tablets, or pellets). Modified-release dosages and their variants are the mechanisms used in tablets and capsules that dissolve active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to release in a slow or controlled manner and to stabilize in the bloodstream.
Modified release dosage forms are drug delivery systems that, based on the formulation and product design, provide drug release in a modified form (delayed or extended) different from traditional dosage forms. Therefore, the modified release dosage form is ideal and has many applications in pharmacy, such as the decrease in the frequency of doses, reduction in drug blood level fluctuations, decrease in the incidence of adverse side effects, and enhanced patient compliance.

Advantages of various types of modified release dosage forms:
  • The major advantage of modified release dosage forms is that to reach clinical objectives, it can control the rates and site of drug release, which cannot be attained by traditional dosage forms.
  • The extended-release dosage form allows for a reduction of at least twofold in the dosage frequency, as compared to the immediate-release or conventional dosage form.
  • The major advantage of the sustained release dosage form is that releases the medication at a predetermined rate to provide long-term therapeutic effects by continuously releasing the drug.
  • By using a targeted release dosage form, it is possible to deliver the drug to the patient in a way that increases the concentration of the drug in specific parts of the body.
  • In a single dose, both immediate release and delayed release of the drug can be possible using the repeat-action tablet.
  • Delayed-release dosage forms such as tablets or capsules are usually enteric-coated that are designed to pass through the stomach, which subsequently releases their medication within the intestinal tract.
  • A small amount of the drug is required to produce the desired effect.
  • It can reduce the gastric irritation and side effects of the drug.
  • Unpleasant taste, odor, and color of the drug can be masked using a coating, which is convenient for children and elderly patients who have difficulty swallowing.
  • As compared with other types of dosage forms it is possible to enhance the bioavailability.
  • This improves patient convenience and compliance.
  • Providing Minimum fluctuation in circulation drug level can provide a more uniform effect on the patients.

Commonly asked questions on dosage forms are as follows.

What are the different types of modified release dosage forms?
Sustained-release dosage forms, extended-release dosage forms, prolonged-action dosage forms, controlled-release dosage forms, repeat-action dosage forms, targeted-release dosage forms, and delayed-release dosage forms are some of the types of modified release drug delivery systems.

What is the major disadvantage of modified release dosage forms?
The major disadvantage of the modified release dosage form is that its side effects last longer because it retains more time in the body compared to the short-acting, immediate release dosage form.

What are the types of tablet dosage form?
Buccal tablets, chewable tablets, compressed tablets, dispensing tablets, effervescent tablets, enteric-coated tablets, film-coated tablets, gelatin-coated tablets, hypodermic tablets, multiple-compressed tablets, rectal tablet, sublingual tablets, sugar-coated tablets, sustained action tablets, and vaginal tablets.


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