Routes of Drug Administration - I

1. Oral Route
1. Merits
• Most Natural route
• Most convenient for the patient
• Self administration is easy
• Patients activity is unchanged
2. Demerits
• Drug may be rejected if patient is vomiting
• May not be completely absorbed in Diarrhea
• Some drugs are destroyed by the gastric and intestinal juices
• First pass metabolism may deactivate some drugs
• Slow absorption
• Irritant drugs cannot be given
• Not useful in unconscious and uncooperative individuals
2. Sublingual route
• Rapid absorption
• First pass metabolism is avoided due to direct systemic absorption
• Patient can spit out remaining drug after desired effect
• Glyceryl trinitrate/isosorbide dinitrate in Angina
• Nifedipine in hypertensive emergency
3. Rectal route
• Easier to use in children, debilitated and comatose individuals
• Aminophylline,Diazepam,diclofenac suppositories
4. Vaginal Route
• For local action in the form of vaginal pessaries
  
• Antifungal pessaries

Category: Pharmacology Notes