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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