ROUTES OF

DRUG
ADMINISTRATION
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

o CLASSIFICATION

o ADVANTAGES

o DISADVANTAGES
 ROUTES OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION

SYSTEMIC LOCAL

Entral Parentral
Oral
Sublingual Injectable Inhalational
Rectal Intravenous
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
Intraarterial
Intrathecal
Intraarticular
Intraperitoneal
ORAL
 ADVANTAGES
o Route is safe.

o Convenient.

o Economical.

o Generally drug absorption is good

due to extensive surface area.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Absorption is slow & irregular.
o Onset of drug action is slow.
o Irritable and unpalatable drugs
can not be given.
o Route can not be utilized in
unconscious and uncooperative
patients.
o Route can not be utilized in
presence of severe vomiting.
o Some drugs are destroyed in
stomach for example: insulin,
heparin and penicillin-G.
o Drugs may undergo FIRST PASS
EFFECT.
o Food affects drug absorption.
o GIT irritation can occur.
SUBLINGUAL
 ADVANTAGES
o Route is economical as no
technical assistance; apparatus or
sterilization is needed.
o Quick termination of the
undesirable drug effects by
spitting the remaining drug.
o First pass effect is avoided.
o Drug absorption and effects are
quick.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Bitter tasting and unpalatable
drugs can not be given.

o Irritation of oral mucosa can

occur.

o Drugs can not be given to

unconscious patient.
o Large quantities of the drug can
not be given.

o Drugs can not be given in

presence of severe vomiting.

o Only some selected drugs are

absorbed through oral mucosa,
for example nitroglycerine,
nifedipine and isoprenaline.
RECTAL
 ADVANTAGES
o Route can be used in children.

o Little first pass effect.

o Route can be used in presence of

vomiting.

o Route can be used in unconscious

patient.
o Higher therapeutic
concentrations of drug are
achieved rapidly in rectum.

o Route is applied for rapid

evacuation of bowel, usually
during gut sterilization before
any surgical or radiological
procedure.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Route is inconvenient.

o Drug absorption is slow and

erratic.

o Irritation or inflammation of rectal

mucosa (Proctitis) can occur.
INJECTIBLE
 ADVANTAGES
o Rapid onset of action.

o Drugs can be given to

unconscious patients.

o Accuracy of dosage is ensured.

o Useful in emergency situations.

o First pass effect is avoided.

o Drugs producing gastric irritation
can be given.

o Drugs destroyed by gastric acid

can be given.

o Drugs that are not absorbed from

G.I.T can be given.

o Drugs can be given in presence of

vomiting and diarrhea.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Less safe.
o Self-administration is difficult or
impossible.
o Expensive.
o Inconvenient and painful.
o Nerve and blood vessel damage
can occur.
o Danger of infection, if aseptic
techniques are not used.
INTRAVENOUS
 ADVANTAGES
o No absorption is required;
bioavailability of drug is 100%.

o Desired drug levels in blood is

achieved quickly and can be
maintained easily.

o Large quantities (volume) of the

drug can be given.
o Rapid onset of action.

o Drugs can be given in presence of

vomiting and diarrhea.

o Drugs can be given to unconscious

patients.

o Useful in emergency situations.

o First pass effect is avoided.

o Drugs producing gastric irritation

can be given.

o Drugs that are not absorbed from

G.I.T can be given.

o Drugs destroyed by gastric acid

can be given.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Extravasation of drugs produces
irritation and cellulitis.
o Chances of thrombophlebitis.
o Sometimes it is difficult to obtain
patent veins.
o Less safe, once the side effects
produced, they are difficult to
control.
o Technical person is needed, self-
administration is impossible.

o Expensive.

o Inconvenient and painful.

o Danger of infection, if proper

sterilization techniques are not
used.
INTRAMUSCULAR
 ADVANTAGES
o Rate of absorption is uniform.

o Rapid onset of action.

o Drugs can be given to unconscious

patients.

o Accuracy of dosage is ensured.

o Useful in emergency situations.

o First pass effect is avoided.

o Drugs producing gastric

o irritation can be given.

o Drugs that are not absorbed

from G.I.T can be given.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Small quantities up to 10 ml of the
drug can be given at a time.

o Local pain and abscess formation.

o Technical person is needed, self-

administration is difficult.
o Expensive.

o Danger of infection, if proper

sterilization techniques are not
used.

o Chances of nerve damage.

SUBCUTANEOUS
 ADVANTAGES
o Rate of drug absorption can be
varied intentionally.

o No First pass effect.

o Actions of the drugs after

subcutaneous administration are
sustained and uniform.
o Drugs can be given in presence of
vomiting and diarrhea.

o Drugs can be given to unconscious

patients.

o Drugs that are not absorbed from

G.I.T can be given.
 DISADVANTAGES
o Only non-irritant drugs can be
given otherwise severe irritation,
pain and necrosis of
subcutaneous tissues can occur.

o Expensive.

o Absorption of the drugs is slow

than I/M injection.
o Danger of infection, if proper
sterilization techniques are not
used.

o Inconvenient and painful.

o Large volumes of the drug can

not be given.
INHALATIONAL
 ADVANTAGES
o Rapid absorption of the drug due
to large surface area.

o First pass effect is avoided.

o Rapid local effects.

 DISADVANTAGES
o Only few drugs can be
administered.

o Drugs may produce irritation of

the pulmonary mucosa.

o Inconvenient procedure of
administration.
o Chances of cardiotoxicity are
high due to the rapid approach of
the drug to heart.

o Systemic side effects may be

produced due to rapid absorption
of the drug.

o Poor ability to regulate the dose.