Routes Of Administration

Front 1

oral

Back 1

Advantages:
-most convenient
- usually least expensive
- safe, does not break skin barrier
-administration does not usually cause stress

disadvantages:
-inappropriate for clients with nausea or vomiting
-drug may have unpleasant odor
-inappropriate when GI tract has reduced motility
-inappropriate if client cannot swallow or is unconscious
-cannot be used before certain diagnostic tests or surgical procedures
-drug may discolor teeth or harm tooth enamel
-drug may irritate gastric mucosa
-drug can be aspirated by seriosly ill clients

Front 2

sublingual

Back 2

advantages- same as for oral, plus
-drug can be administered for local effect
-drug is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream
-more potent than oral routes because drug directly enters the blood and bypasses the liver

disadvantages:
-if swallowed, drug may be inactivated by gastric juice
-drugs must remain under tongue until dissolved and absorbed

Front 3

buccal

Back 3

advantages and disadvantages: same as for sublingual

Front 4

rectal

Back 4

advantages:
-can be used when drug has objectionable taste or odor
-drug released at slow, steady rate

disadvantages:
-dose absorbed is unpredictable

Front 5

vaginal

Back 5

advantages:
-provides local therapeutic effect

disadvantages:
-limited use

Front 6

topical

Back 6

advantages:
-provides local effect
-few side effects

disadvantages:
-may be messy and may soil clothes
-drug can enter body through abrasions and cause systemic effect

Front 7

transdermal

Back 7

advantages:
-prolonged systemic effect
-few side effects
-avoids GI absorption problems

disadvantages:
-leaves residue on the skin that may soil clothes
-may cause skin irritation

Front 8

subcutaneous

Back 8

advantages:
-onset drug action faster than oral

disadvantages:
-must involve sterile technique because breaks skin barrier
-more expensive than oral
-can administer only small volume
-slower than IM administration
-some drugs irritate tissues and cause pain
-can be anxiety producing

Front 9

intramuscular

Back 9

advantages:
-pain from irritating drugs is minimized
-can administer larger vol than SC
-drug is rapidly absorbed

disadvantages:
-breaks skin barrier
-some drugs can irritate tissue and cause pain
-can be anxiety producing

Front 10

Intradermal

Back 10

advantages:
-absorption is slow (advantage for testing allergies)

disadvantages:
-amount of drugs administered must be small
-breaks skin barrier

Front 11

intravenous

Back 11

advantages:
-rapid effect

disadvantages:
-limited to highly soluble drugs
-anxiety producing and causes pain

Front 12

Inhalation

Back 12

advantages:
-introduces drug throughout respiratory tract
-rapid localized relief
-drug can be administered to unconscious client

disadvantages:
-drug intended for localized effect can have systemic effect
-of use only for the respiratory system