The intramuscular route of drug administration is one of the commonly used routes for parenteral injection. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of intramuscular injection are mentioned.
The medication is effective when they reach their site of action therefore different routes are used. A route of drug administration is the way by which an active ingredient (API) is brought into contact to the particular site of the body, which route of drug administration is to be used depends on the physical and chemical properties of the drug.
Injections are administered in different ways, the most common of which are intravenous, subcutaneous, and intramuscular. Intravenous is injected directly into the veins, subcutaneous is injected into the skin, and intramuscular is administered into the muscles.
The intramuscular route of drug administration is the method of administering drugs specifically to the depth of the bulk of the selected muscle. The drug administered in the muscle is usually quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and avoids the first-pass metabolism that occurs with the oral route of administration. It can also be administered as depot injections, providing a slow, sustained release of the drug over a long period of time.
Advantages of the intramuscular route of drug administration:
- The major advantage of the intramuscular route of drug administration is that it delivers the medication directly into the central area of a specific muscle which provides rapid and uniform absorption of the drug.
- As compared to the oral and subcutaneous routes it offers rapid onset of action.
- It is suitable to introduce a large amount of the drug compared to the subcutaneous route.
- The intramuscular route has efficacy and potency compared to other parenteral routes of drug administration.
- It also avoids gastric factors that control the absorption of the medication.
- As compared with the intravenous route it allows for slow, prolonged, and sustained release of the drug.
- The intramuscular route avoids the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism.
- It is suitable for those drugs who not recommended for other routes of administration.
- There is no issue related to the unpleasant odor and taste of the drug as compared with solid oral dosage forms (tablets, capsules) since it directly injected using injection and syringe.
Disadvantages of the intramuscular route of drug administration:
- The major advantage of the intramuscular route of drug administration is that intramuscular injection is futile if the precise site wherever it's administered isn't conducive to the ready absorption of the drug.
- The intramuscular route is painful and there may be an abscess at the site of injection, so older and child patients avoid taking medication through the intramuscular route.
- It is difficult in self-administration that limits its use, requires a trained person as it injected deep into the muscle.
- It can cause break the skin barrier.
- It also aseptic conditions are needed as same as other parenteral routes.
- It may cause irregular absorption of the drug.
- It is only suitable for soluble drugs, the drug which is in the form of suspension and oil cannot be administered.
Commonly asked questions on the route of drug administration are as follows.
Why do we use intramuscular injection?
The intramuscular route is a technique of delivering the drug deep into the muscles which are commonly used for the patients who are unable to obtain drugs through other commonly used routes, uncooperative, non-compliant, and reluctant patients.
What is the major disadvantage of the parenteral route of drug administration?
The parenteral route is applicable for the rapid onset of action, not for extended prolonged, and sustained-release of the drug.
What are the common types of routes of drug administration?
Oral, parenteral, Rectal, Enteral, Buccal or Sublingual, nasal, inhalation, otic, transdermal, and ocular are the major routes of drug administration that are commonly used.
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