Transcript Document
Routes of Medication
Administration
Bladen Community College
Pharmacy Technician
Summer 2011
Routes & Forms Introduction
• The way the body absorbs and distributes drugs varies with
the route of administration and the dosage form used.
• Routes of administration are usually classified by
application location
• Dosage routes are classified as enteral or parenteral.
• For each route of administration, there are various
formulations used to deliver the drug via that route.
Local effect: when drug activity is at the site of
administration.
Systemic effect: when a drug is introduced into the venous
(circulatory) system and carried to the site of activity.
Enteral
Enteral refers to anything involving the
alimentary tract, i.e., from the mouth to the
rectum. This tract is involved with digesting
foods, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating
unabsorbed wastes. There are four enteral routes
of administration:
1. Oral
2. Sublingual
3. Buccal
4. Rectal
Enteral Routes
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Oral
Sublingual
Buccal
Rectal
• Stomach and
intestine
• Under the tongue
• Inside the cheek
• Rectum
Dosage Forms
Enteral Route
• Oral
• Buccol
• Sublingual
• Rectal
Dosage Form
• Tablets * capsules * Bulk
powder * solutions
suspensions * elixirs *
syrups* emulsions
• Tablets * solutions
• Tablets * lozenges
• Solutions * ointments *
suppositories
Intraocular
The EYE
Drugs are administered to the eye for
LOCAL TREATMENT of various eye
conditions and for anesthesia.
A major problem of ophthalmic
administration is the immediate loss
of a dose by nature spillage from the
eye.
Intraocular
Tips for Using
Ophthalmic Drops: Keep
in mind that this is a
sterile solution.
Contamination of the
eye dropper or eye
solution can lead to a
serious eye infection.
If irritation persists or
increases, discontinue
use immediately.
Avoid eye make-up
while using eye
solutions.
Use a mirror when
applying the drops, or
have someone help
instill the eye drops.
Intraocular Dosage Forms
Solutions
Suspensions
Ointments
Inserts
INTRANASAL
• The adult nasal cavity has a capacity of about 20 ml, a
very large surface area for absorption, and a very rich
blood supply.
• The intranasal absorption of some drugs produces
blood concentrations similar to when the drug is
intravenously administered.
• Most intranasal formulations are used for their
decongestant activity on the nasal mucosa
Continue Intranasal
• Intranasal formulations include solutions,
suspensions, ointments, and gels.
• If the drug is sufficiently volatile, it can be
administered in a nasal inhaler.
• Intranasal dosage forms should not be
used for prolonged periods.
Intranasal Devices Included:
Nasal Spray
Nasal Aerosol
Nasal Inhaler
Buccal
Buccal is an enteral route……………
Dosage forms…
• Tablets: Hard formulations in which drug and
other ingredients are machine compressed
under high pressure into shape.
• Solutions: A clear liquid made up of one or
more ingredients dissolved into a solvent
Buccal tablets and
lozenges are placed
in the pouch between
the cheeks and the
teeth to dissolve
SUBLINGUAL
Sublingual is derived from
Latin and literally means
‘under the tongue.’
It refers to the route of
administration by which
drugs can be taken. Drugs
are placed underneath the
tongue so that they can be
absorbed directly into the
small blood vessels that lie
there.
The sublingual route has
certain advantages over other
routes of administration
because it is often faster as the
drug is absorbed directly into
the bloodstream. It also
ensures that the drug is only
broken down by salivary
enzymes. If a drug were to be
taken orally, it would have to
survive the acid, bile, and
enzymes of the stomach, liver,
and intestines before finally
entering the bloodstream.
However, many drugs cannot
be taken sublingually because
they are not absorbed
completely or are absorbed
too quickly.
Dermal
• The skin is the largest and heaviest organ in the body
and accounts for about 17%
• Most dermal dosage forms are used for local effects on
or within the skin
• Dermal administration has a number of advantages
• Ease of administration not found in other routes
• Continuous drug delivery
• Easily removed if necessary
• Disadvantage; amount of drug that can be absorbed is
limited to about 2mg/hour.
Dermal Formulations
•The skin is composed of 3
layers;
epidermis
dermis
subcutaneous tissue
•The absorption of drugs
through the skin is called
“Percutaneous
Absorption.”
Dermal Formulations
• Solutions, Tinctures, Collodions, and
Liniments
• Ointments, Creams, Gels, and Lotions
• Pastes, Plasters, and Powders
• Transdermal Patches, Tapes, and Gauzes
• Aerosols
Inhalation
• Inhalation dosage forms are intended to deliver
drugs to the pulmonary system (lungs).
• Gaseous or volatile anesthetics are the most
important drugs administered via this route.
• Most inhalation dosage forms are MDI aerosols
that depend on the power of compressed or
liquefied gas to expel the drug from a container.
• Particle size is the critical factor with these dosage
forms.
Inhalation Devices
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Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) Aerosols
Adapters and Spacers
Dry Powder Inhalers
Atomizers and Nebulizers
Oral Formulations
•Oral administration is the most frequently used
route of administration.
•When formulations are orally administered,
they enter the stomach, which is very acidic.
•Drugs administered in liquid dosage forms
generally reach the circulatory system faster
than drugs formulated in solid dosage forms.
Gastrointestinal action
• The disintegration and
dissolution of tablets, capsules,
and powders generally begins
in the stomach, but continue
to occur when the stomach
empties into the intestine.
• Enteric coated tablets are used
when the drug can be
degraded by the stomach acid.
• The enteric coating will not let
the tablet disintegrate until it
reaches the higher pHs of the
intestines.
Solid formulations
• Tablets are hard
formulations in which drug
and other ingredients are
machine compressed
under high pressure into a
shape.
• Capsules contain drug and
the other ingredient
packaged in a gelatin shell.
• Bulk powders contain the
active drug in a small
powder paper or foil
envelope.
Liquid formulations
• Solution is a clear liquid made up of one or more ingredients
dissolved in a solvent.
• Syrups are concentrated or nearly saturated solutions of sucrose in
water.
• No aqueous solutions are those solutions which predominately
contain solvents other than water, either alone or addition in water.
• Elixirs are clear, sweetened, hydro alcoholic liquids intended for oral
use.
• Spirits or essence are alcoholic or hydro alcoholic solutions of volatile
substances with alcohol substances ranging from 62%-85%.
• Tinctures are alcoholic or hydro alcoholic solution of nonvolatile
substances.
• Suspensions are formations in which the drug does not completely
dissolve in the solvent.
Intravenons
• Intravenous dosage forms are administerd directly into a
vein and therefore the circulating blood. Eulsions are
formulations that contain both aqueous,nonaqueos
componets.it takes about 20 secounds for intravenous
administerddrugs to circulate throughout the body.
Devices
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SYRINGES
INFUSION
INFUSION PUMPS
ELASTOMERIC PUMPS
Intramuscular
• Intramuscular injections are
often given to patients who are
unable to take there
medications by mouth.
• Intramuscular injections are
also used as a route for
medications that are poorly
absorbed by the
gastrointestinal tract.
• Intramuscular drugs are often
considered less harmful and
easier to use than the
intravenous route.
• Drugs for intramuscular
injections are often formulated
as:
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Solutions
Suspensions
Colloids
Oil-in-water emulsions
Water-in-oil emulsions
Intramuscular Injuries
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Abscesses
Cysts
Embolism
Hematoma
Skin Sloughing
Scar Formation
Intramuscular Injection Sites
• Needles used for injection sites
are generally 1in. To 1.5 inches
long and are generally 19 to 22
gauge in size.
• Generally only limited volumes
can be given IM.
– 2 ml in the deltoid and
thigh muscles
– 5 ml in the gluteus
maximus
• The principal sites for
injections are:
– Gluteal maximus
(buttocks)
– Deltoid (upper arm)
– Vastus lateralis (thigh)
Intramuscular Injection Sites
• Needles used for injection sites
are generally 1in. To 1.5 inches
long and are generally 19 to 22
gauge in size.
• Generally only limited volumes
can be given IM.
– 2 ml in the deltoid and
thigh muscles
– 5 ml in the gluteus
maximus
• The principal sites for
injections are:
– Gluteal maximus
(buttocks)
– Deltoid (upper arm)
– Vastus lateralis (thigh)
Vaginal
• Both Enteral &
Parenteral Route
• Cylinder like organ that
leads from the cerix and
uterus to an external
opening.
• Most used for local
effect. Long term
systemic effect can be
achieved with IUD’s
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Solutions
Powders
Ointments
Creams
Aerosol foams
Suppositories
Tablets
IUD
Rectal
• Drugs are administered to
the rectum for local effect or
to avoid degradation after
oral administration.
• Also if the patient is
vomiting, unconscious, or
incapable of swallowing oral
formulations.
• Local effects may include the
soothing of inflamed
hemorrhoidal tissues or
promoting laxation.
• Degradation comes from
stomach acid or intestinal
enzymes.
Rectal administration is used to achieve a variety of systemic effects
including asthma control, antinausea, motion sickness, and antiinfective therapy.
• The most common rectal
administration dosage forms
are suppositories, solutions,
and ointments.
• Suppositories are semisolid
dosage forms that dissolve in
the rectum.
• Solutions are used as
enemas.
• Ointments are spread around
the anal opening .
• Disadvantages of rectal
dosage forms are:
• Not preferred by most
patients.
• They are inconvenient
• Rectal absorption of most
drugs are frequently erratic
and unpredictable.
Subcutaneous
• Subcutaneous means under the skin
Absorption
• Subcutaneous administration usually provides
slower absorption compared to intramuscular
administration
• Subcutaneous administration provides faster
absorption compared to oral administration
Other drugs administered SC
• Heparin
• Vaccines
• enoxaparin
Implants
• Preferred route of administration for implants
Routes of Administration
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Solutions
Suspensions
Emulsions
Implants