ROUTES OF DRUG
ADMINISTRATION
Systemic
Route
Oral Route
• Giving a drug by mouth
• Easily self-administered and limit the
number of systemic infections
• Pathways involved are the most complicated
and exposed to harsh gastrointestinal
environments that may limit its absorption
Oral Route
• Most drugs absorbed from the GI tract enter
the portal circulation and encounter the liver
before they are distributed into the general
circulation known as “First Pass Metabolism
Advantages Disadvantages
• Safe • Slow onset
• Convenient • First pass effect
• Painless • Drugs destroyed by
• Economical digestive juices
• Self-administered • Cannot be given to
unconscious and
uncooperative patient
Sublingual/Buccal Route
• Tablet or pellet containing
the drug is placed under
the tongue or crushed in
mouth and spread over
the buccal mucosa
• Rapidly absorbed in the
bloodstream, bypasses
liver
Sublingual
Advantages Disadvantages
• Quick onset of action • Distasteful drugs
• Bypass first pass cannot be given
effect • Drugs of high
molecular weight are
• Can be spitted out if not well absorbed
side effects occur • Swallowing may
deactivate the drug
Rectal Route
• Drugs that are
administered rectally as
a suppository
• Mixed with a waxy
substance that
dissolves or liquefies
after inserted into the
rectum
Advantages Disadvantages
• Useful in patients with • Chances of rectal
nausea and vomiting inflammation
• Bypass first pass • Absorption unreliable
effect • Inconvenient and
• Useful if drug is embarrassing to the
gastric irritant patient
Urethral Route
Advantages Disadvantages
• Unconscious patients • May cause irritation
and children • Absorption may be
• If patient is having variable
nausea or vomiting
Parenteral Routes
Intravenous
Advantages Disadvantages
• Quick onset • Painful
• Bypass first pass effect • Aseptic conditions is
• Useful in unconscious needed
• Large volume fluids • Risk of
• Gastric irritant drugs thrombophlebitis
may be given • Introduction of air or
• Amount of drug is particulate embolism
controlled
Intramuscular
Advantages Disadvantages
• Absorption is more • Painful
predictable and rapid • Aseptic conditions is
compared to oral
needed
• Depot injections can be
given for sustained • Chances of abscess
drug effect and nerve damage
• Large volumes cannot
be given
Deltoid Muscle
Dorsogluteal Muscle
Vastus Lateralis
Subcutaneous
Advantages Disadvantages
• Smooth absorption for • Small volumes of
longer periods drug (max of 2 ml)
• Depot injections can • Irritant drugs and can
be given cause necrosis and
sloughing
• Not suitable in states
of shock
Intramedullary
Advantages Disadvantages
• Onset of action is • Painful
very fast • Risky
• Strict aseptic
conditions
• Skills needed
Intrathecal
Advantages Disadvantages
• Drug acts directly on • Strict aseptic
meninges and CNS precautions needed
• Bypass blood-brain • Painful procedure
barrier and blood-
CSF barrier
Intraarterial
Advantages Disadvantages
• Greater • Painful
concentrations of • Aseptic conditions
drug can be • Expertise needed
delivered to desired
site
INHALATION ROUTE
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
FAST ABSORPTION BRONCHIAL
IRRITATION
QUICK ONSET
SELF
ADMINISTRATION
TOPICAL ROUTES
• CONJUNCTIVAL, AUDITORY
• NASAL
• VAGINAL AND URETHRAL
• TRANSDERMAL PATCHES
Administration achieves
systemic effects by
application of drugs to the
skin, usually via a
transdermal medicated
adhesive