Question | Answer |
Oral Medication | Absorbed from stomach or intestine
Transported to the liver
Released into general circulation |
Intramuscular injection | Gradually absorbed into the blood
Blood transports drug |
Topical | Applied to the skin, eyes, or ears
Local therapeutic effect |
Transdermal | Different than topical route as has systemic therapeutic effect
Applied to skin – delivered through a patch
Drug slowly released |
Oral | Most convenient and most common route
SR: slow release, CR: control release, LA: long lasting, XL: extended length
Tablets (enteric coated), capsules, liquids
Absorbed in the stomach or small intestine |
Sublingual | Placing medication under the tongue
Provides faster therapeutic effect than oral route |
Buccal | Placeing medication in the pocket between the cheeck and lower teeth
Few drugs are administered by buccal route |
Nasal | Spraying a drug into the nasal cavity
Usually done topically
Some nasal spray drugs work systemically |
Inhalation | Inhalling a drug in a gas, liquid, or power form
Absorbed through the alveoli |
Nasogastric (NG) | Used for patients who cannot take oral medications
Accomplished through a nasogastric tube
Inserted through the nose
Through the esophasgus
Into the stomach
Any liquid drug that can be given orally |
Gastrostomy and jejunostomy | For patients who cannot take oral medications
Surgically implanted feeding tubes
Deliver liquid drugs to the stomach (gastrostomy)
Deliver liquid drugs to the jejunum (jejunostomy)
Any liquid drug that can be given orally |
Vaginal | Used to treat vaginal infections
Creams, ointments, and suppositories
Contraceptive foams are inserted vaginally |
Rectal | Not often used; reserved for certain situations
When patient is vomitting or unconscious
Medication cannot be given by injection
Systemic absorption is slow and unpredictable
Preferred to relieve constipation or treat hemorrhoids |
Intraderma | syringe to inject a liquid drug into the dermis; used for allergy scratch test and Mantoux test |
Subcutaneous | syringe to inject a liquid drug into the subcutaneous tissue; only a few blood vessels in this fatty layer, drugs absorbed more slowly than by intramuscular route. |
Intramuscular- | injection of a liquid drug into a muscle (well supplied with blood vessels; absorbed more quickly than s/c and better able to absorb large amount of liquid drug; muscle large enough so as not to injure a nerve |
Intravenous- | Intravenous- injection of liquid drug into a vein; fluid is hung from an IV pole, gravity moves the fluid through the tubing of alternatively, an IV pump can be used; therapeutic effect often seen immediately. |
Bolus | Whole amount injected in a short period of time
Often referred to as IV push |
IV infusion | Injected into the fluid of a large IV bag
Administered over several hours
Known as an IV drip |
IV piggyback | Injected into the fluid of a small IV back attached to existing IV line. |
Central Venous Line | Used to continuously administer IV fluids or drugs
special catheter tunneled through the subcutane3ous tissue of the upper chest
Positioned in the superior vena cava |
Endotracheal Tube | Used to administer drugs through tube inserted in the mouth into the trachea
Useful if no established intravenous access
Drug is absorbed through the lung tissue and into the blood |
Implatable Port | Special intravenous access used to administer chemotherapy drug
metal or plastic reservoir placed in subcutaneous pocket of tissue
Administered by inserting a needle through the skin overlying the reservoir. |
Intra-arterial | Used to administer chemotherapy directly into the area of a cancerous tumor
Catheter inserted into the main artery that brings blood to organ where cancer is located |
Intra-articular | Used to administer drugs to a joint
Injected once every few weeks or months |
Intracardiac | Only used during emergency resuscitation
Needle inserted through the check wall, between the ribs, and into one of the heart chambers |
Intrathecal | Used to administer drugs within the meninges around the spinal cord |
Intravesical | Used for the administration of chemotherapy drugs into the bladder
Catheter unserted into the urethra |
Intraperitioneal | Used to administer drugs or fluids into the peritoneal cavity
Catheter surgically implanted through the abdominal wall into peritoneal cavity
Used to administer chemotherapy or dialysis fluid |
Umbilical artery or vein | Accessible only in newborn infants before the umbilical cord has dried
Used to administer fluids and draw blood
Generally not used to give drugs. |