Administratio

Dr. sohil makwana

Dept. Of Pharmacology
GMERS Medical College, Dharpur Patan.

A route of administration is the path by

which a drug, fluid, poison or other
substance is brought into contact with the
body.
CHANNELS
OF DRUG
ADMINISTRAT
ION

ENTERAL

PARENTERAL

TOPICAL

ENTERAL

ORAL

SUBLINGU
AL

BUCCAL

RECTAL

ORAL ROUTE

Oral refers to
two methods of administration:

applying topically to the mouth

swallowing for absorption along the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract into systemic circulation

po (from the Latin per os) is the abbreviation used

to indicate oral route of medication administration

ORAL

Advantages

Convenient - can be self- administered, pain free,

easy to take
Absorption - takes place along the whole length of
the GI tract
Cheap - compared to most other parenteral routes

ORAL

Disadvantages

Onset of action is too slow and peak effect also delayed

Sometimes inefficient - only part of the drug may be
absorbed (irregular absorption)
Unpleasant taste of some drugs & irritation to gastric
mucosa - nausea and vomiting (NSAIDs, Iron, CHQ)
Destruction of drugs by gastric acid and digestive juices
(eg insulin, Penicillin G)
unable to use in unconscious patient
First-pass effect - drugs absorbed orally are initially
transported to the liver via the portal vein

First-pass Effect

The term used for the hepatic metabolism of a

pharmacological agent when it is absorbed
from the gut and delivered to the liver via the
portal circulation.
The greater the first-pass effect, the less the
agent will reach the systemic circulation when
the agent is administered orally.
E.g. morphine, NTG

First-pass Effect

Oral Dosage Forms

Common dose forms for oral administration

tablets
capsules
liquids
solutions
suspensions
syrups
elixirs

SUBLINGUAL ROUTE

Sublingual administration is
where the dosage form is
placed under the tongue

rapidly absorbed by
sublingual mucosa

SUBLINGUAL ROUTE
11

ADVANTAGES

Drug absorption is quick

First-pass avoided
Quick termination
Economical

DISADVANTAGES

Unpalatable & bitter drugs

Irritation of oral mucosa
Large quantities not given
Few drugs are absorbed

BUCCAL ROUTE

Buccal
administration
is where the
dosage form is
placed between
gums and inner
lining of the cheek
(buccal pouch)
absorbed by
buccal mucosa

BUCCAL ROUTE
ADVANTAGES
Avoid first pass effect
Rapid absorption
Drug stability
DISADVANTAGES
Inconvenience
advantages lost if
swallowed
Small dose limit

RECTAL ROUTE
14

By Suppository
or Enema
E.g. aspirin,
theophylline,
chlorpromazine

Advantages
Used in children
Little or no first pass effect
Used in
Vomiting/unconscious
Higher concentrations rapidly achieved

Disadvantages
Absorption is slow and erratic
Irritation or inflammation of rectal mucosa can occur
Inconvenient and patient may feel embarrassment

SYSTEMIC-PARENTERAL

Parenteral administration is injection or infusion

by means of a needle or catheter inserted into the
body
The term parenteral comes from Greek words
Para outside , Enteron - the intestine
This route of administration bypasses the
alimentary canal

SYSTEMIC-PARENTERAL
16

VII.

INJECTABLES
INTRAVENOUS
INTRAMUSCULAR
SUBCUTANEOUS
INTRA-ARTERIAL
INTRA-ARTICULAR
INTRATHECAL
INTRADERMAL

INHALATION - Absorption through the lungs

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

Rapid, extensive and predictable

effect
Can be administered in patients with
vomiting
Uncooperative and unconscious
patients

Infection

Pain at the site of injection

Self administration not possible

Costly

INTRAVENOUS
18

ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES

Bioavailability 100%
Desired blood concentrations
achieved
Quick and predictable action
Large quantities
Vomiting & diarrhea
Emergency situations
First pass avoided
Gastric manipulation avoided

Oily preparation, Suspensions,

colloidal sol. Cant be given
Irritation & cellulitis
Thrombophelebitis
Repeated injections not always
feasible
Less safe
Technical assistance required
Danger of infection
Expensive

Intravenous
DRUGS CAN BE GIVEN IV AS;
1 bolus
2 slowly
3 slow infusion

INTRAMUSULAR ROUTE
20

ADVANTAGES

Absorption reasonably
uniform
Vascularity of muscle is good
so absorption is rapid than SC
Rapid onset of action
Mild irritants can be given
First pass avoided
Gastric factors can be avoided
Depot preparations can be
used

DISADVANTAGES

Only upto 10ml drug given

Local pain and abscess
Expensive
Infection
Nerve damage, paralysis

Site of IM injection

SUBCUTANEOUS

Injected under the skin.

Absorption is slow, so action is prolonged.

IMPLANT :a tablet or porous capsule is inserted into

the loose tissues by incision of the skin, which is
then stitched up.
example : certain hormonal drugs

Advantages

Disadvantages

Vascularity is poor in SC tissue

Cant be use in emergency

situations

Effect sustain and uniform

Suspensions, colloid or oily preparation

can administered

Highly suitable for depot preparations

Self administration possible. eg. Insulin

Irritant drug are very painful b/c of

high nerve supply

Very small volume can be

administered (2 ml)

Repeated injection at one site

cause lipoatrophy

Depot preparations

Dermoget: insulin
Pellet implantation: DOCA, Testosterone
Biodegradable and non biodegradable
(sialistic) implantation: progestin implant
Insulin pumps: CSII (continuous
Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion)

INTRADERMAL/ TRANSCUTENEOUS
(ID/TC)

drug is given within skin layers

(b/w dermis and epidermis)
Painful
Mainly used for testing sensitivity
to drugs.
e.g. penicillin, ATS (anti tetanus
serum)

INOCULATION :administration of
vaccine (like small pox vaccine )

Other Parenteral Routes

Intraarterial
Route

For diagnosis: angiography in coronary and other

peripheral artery diseases

For therapy: Anticancer drugs are given for

localized effects

Adv: high local conc,

Disadv: strict aseptic precautions require and

expertise require

Intraarticular
Administration

Injection in joint space (synovial fluid)

provide local effect

Eg. Steroid and gold salt in arthritis

Adv: high local conc.

Disadv: strict aseptic precautions

require and too freauent injections
may cause damage

Intraperitoneal Route : injection b/w two layers

of peritoneum (dialysis)
Intrathecal Route: injection in subarachnoid
space
Epidural Route: injection b/w the lining of spinal
canal and dura mater
Intramedulary Route: injection into bone marrow
Intracardiac: directly into myocardium and
ventricular space
Subconjuctival Administration:
Intraventricular: administration of drug in brain
ventricles

Inhalation

Used for gaseous and volatile agents and aerosols.

Advantages:

Large surface area

Thin membranes separate alveoli from circulation
High blood flow
As result of that a rapid onset of action due to rapid
access to circulation

Disadvantages

Most addictive route of administration because it hits the

brain so quickly
Difficulties in regulating the exact amount of dosage
Sometimes patient having difficulties in giving
themselves a drug by inhaler

Topical Routes of Administration

Topical administration is the application of a drug

directly to the surface of the skin
Includes administration of drugs to any mucous
membrane
- Eye
- Nose
- Ears
- Lungs

Vagina
Urethra
Colon

Nasal, eye and ear drops

Topical Dosage Forms

Dose forms for topical administration include:

Skin:
Eye or ear:
creams
solutions
ointments
suspensions
lotions
gels
ointments
transdermal patches
Nose and lungs:
disks
sprays and powders

Advantages and Disadvantages of the

Topical Route

Advantages:

Local therapeutic effects

Not well absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin
or mucous membrane lower risk of side effects

Disadvantages:

Irritant drugs cant be given

Allergic reaction may occurs
sprays for inhalation through the nose may be for
local or systemic effects

Transdermal Therapeutic System

absorption of drug through skin
(systemic action)
Advantages

Uniform, sustain and

prolonged and stable blood
levels
No first pass metabolism

Disadvantages

May dropped unnoticed

May stick to other
person and produce

Route for administration

-Time until effect

intravenous
intraosseous
endotracheal
inhalation
sublingual
intramuscular
subcutaneous
rectal
ingestion
transdermal (topical)

30-60 seconds
30-60 seconds
2-3 minutes
2-3 minutes
3-5 minutes
10-20 minutes
15-30 minutes
5-30 minutes
30-90 minutes
variable (minutes to hours)

t
n
a
t
r
o
p
m
I
Very fo!
In

No single method of drug

administration is ideal for all
drugs in all circumstances

SELECTION OF ROUTE

Physical property
Chemical property
Patie
Nature of drug Drug
Condition of pt
Absorption
nt
factor
Associated dis
Bioavailability
factor Personality
s
Plasma t1/2
Disea s
Convenience of

se
factor
s

Emergency situation/poisoning
Local action/ systemic action require

Multiple Choice Questions

Drug administered through the following route is most
likely to be subjected to first-pass metabolism:
a) Oral b) Sublingual
c) Subcutaneous d) Rectal

`Essential drugs are:

a) Life saving drugs
b) Drugs that meet the priority health care needs of the
population
c) Drugs that must be present in the emergency bag of a
doctor
d) Drugs that are listed in the pharmacopoia of a
country

An 'orphan drug' is:

a) A very cheap drug
b) A drug which has no therapeutic use
c) A drug needed for treatment or prevention of a rare disease
d) A drug which acts on Orphanin receptors

Pharmacovigilance is:
a) The study of biological and therapeutic effects of drugs
b) The study of absorption, distribution, metabolism and
excretion of drugs
c) The study of adverse effects of drug
d) The study of methods of new drug development

Tick the feature of the sublingual route:

a) Pretty fast absorption
b) A drug is exposed to gastric secretion
c) A drug is exposed more prominent liver
metabolism
d) A drug can be administrated in a
variety of doses