Route of Administration Advantages Disadvantages

Oral Most convenient Unpleasant taste

Usually least expensive Gastric irritation
Safe Irregular absorption in GI tract
Can harm teeth
Aspiration
Cannot be used before certain diagnostic tests or surgical procedures
Inappropriate for patients with nausea and vomiting or difficulty
swallowing or if unconscious
Sublingual Same as oral, plus: May be inactivated by gastric juice
Drug can be administered for local effect must remain under tongue until absorbed
More potent than oral route because drug directly enters the May cause stinging and/or irritation of mucous membranes
blood and bypasses the liver Directly absorbed into bloodstream
Buccal Same with sublingual Same with sublingual
Rectal Can be used if drug has objectionable taste/odor Dose absorbed is unpredictable
Drug released at slow steady rate May be perceived as unpleasant by the client
Provides a local therapeutic effect Limited use
Vaginal Provides a local effect May be messy and may soil clothes
Topical Few side effects Drug can enter the body through abrasions and cause systemic effects

Transdermal Avoids gastrointestinal absorption problems Leaves residue on the skin that may soil clothes
Onset of drug action faster than oral
Subcutaneous Must involve sterile technique
More expensivethan oral
can administeronly small volume
Slower than intramuscular injection
Some drugs irritate tissuesand cause pain
Can produce anxiety
Breaks skin barrier
Intramuscular Can administer larger volume than subcutaneous Can produce anxiety
Drug is rapidly absorbed
Intradermal Absorption is slow Amount of drug administered must be small
Breaks skin barrier
Intravenous Rapid effect Limited to high soluble drugs
Drug distribution inhibited by poor circulation
Inhalation Introduces drug throughout respiratory tract Drug intended for localized effect can have systemic effect
Rapid localized relief Of use only for the respiratory system
Drug can be administered to unconscious client
 Route of Administration

I. ORAL
DRUGS:
A. Solid
1. Tablet – powdered drug compressed into a hard small disc.
a) Enteric-coated -
b) Scored -
2. Pill – one or more drugs mixed with a cohesive material, in oval, round or flattened shapes.
3. Capsule – a gelatinous container to hold a drug in powder, liquid or oil form.
4. Caplet – a solid form, shaped like a capsule, coated and easily swallowed
5. Powder – a finely ground drug or drugs; some are used internally, others externally
B. Liquid
Syrup – an aqueous solution of sugar often used to disguise unpleasant-tasting drugs
6. Suspension – one or more finely divided in a liquid such as water
7. Tincture – An alcoholic or water-and-alcohol solution prepared from drugs derived from plants
8. Elixir – a sweetened and aromatic solution of alcohol used as a vehicle for medicinal agents
II. SUBLINGUAL – a drug that is placed unde the tongue where it dissolves
Drugs are usuallyin small tablet form. Example:
III. BUCCAL – a medication is held in the mouth against the mucous membrane of the cheek until the drug dissolves
DRUG:
A. Lozenge (troche) – a flat, round, or oval preparation that dissolves and releases a drug when held in the mouth.
IV. TOPICAL – application of medications to circumscribed areas of the body.
A. Dermatologic – applied to the skin
DRUGS:
1. Liniment – a medication mixed with alcoho, oil, or soapy emolient and applied to the skin
2. Lotion – a medication in a liquid suspension applied to the skin
3. Ointment – a semisolid preparation of one or more drugs used for application to the skin and mucous membrane.
4. Aerosol spray or foam- aliquid, powder or foam deposited in a thin layer on the skin by air pressure
5. cream – a non greasy, semi-solid preparation used on the skin
6. Paste – a preparation like an ointment, but thcker and stiff, that penetraes theskin less than an ointment
PRINCIPLES/PROCEDURES
1. Wash & pat dry the area well before application to facilitate absorption of drugs
2. Use surgical asepsis when open wound is present
3. If the skin has lesions, wear gloves or use tongue depressor to apply medication
4. Remove previous application before the next application of medication
5. Apply only a thin layer of medication
B. Opthalmic – applied to the eyes
DRUGS:
7. Instillations – to provide an eye medication the client requires
8. Irrigations – toclear the eye of noxious orother foreign material or excessive secretion or in preparation for surgery
GUIDELINES:
1. Position client either sitting or lying
2. For irrigations, tilt the client's head towards the affected side
3. Use clean sterile technique
 4. Clean the eyelidand eyelashes withsterile cotton balls moistened with sterile NSS, wipe from the inner canthus toouter canthus
5. Instill eye drops into outer third of lower conjunctival sac
6. Instill eye ointment into the lower conjunctival sac frominner canthus to the outer canthus outward.
7. Instruc the patient to close eyes gently
8. forliquideye medication, pree firmly on thenasolacrimalduct atleast 30 seconds
C. OTIC – applied to ears
DRUGS:
9. Instillations – to soften earwax, reduce inflammation and treat infection, relieve pain
10. Irrigations – to remove cerumen or pus, to apply heat,to remove foreign object
PROCEDURE:
1. Warm solution at body temperature
2. Place patient in sidelying position with ear being treated uppermost
3. Clean the pinna of the ear and the meatus of the ear canal with cotton tipped applicator
4. Straighten the ear canal
5. Press gently but firmly a few times on the tragus of the ear to assist the flow of medication into the canal
6. Ask theclient to remain toside lying position for about 5 minutes
7. Insert asmall piece of cotton fluff loosely at the meatus of the auditory canal for 15 to 20 minutes
D. NASAL – applied to nose
PROCEDURE:

E. INHALATION

F. VAGINAL
DRUGS:
1. Tablet
2. Cream
3. Jelly
4. Suppository

G. RECTAL