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.
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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