Ch. 4 Routes of Admin & Drug Cycle Flashcards
Routes of Administration
route by which drug is given.
topical route
when a drug is applied directly to the skin or to the eyes or ears
topical: pertaining to a specific area
(antibiotic ointment or eye drops)
transdermal route
the drug is applied to the skin, but the therapeutic effect is always felt systemically and not at the site of administration.
(patch)
oral route
placing drug in the mouth and swallowing it
tablets, capsules and liquids
sublingual route
placing drug under the tongue and allowing it to disintegrate slowly.
buccal route
placing drug in the pocket between cheek and lower teeth on one side of the mouth and allowing it to disintegrate slowly.
intranasal route
involves spraying a drug into the nasal cavity
inhalation route
inhaling of a drug that is in liquid, powder, or gas form
nasogastric route
one method that is used to administer drugs to patients who cannot take oral drugs. nasogastric tube is passed through the nose, through the esophagus, and into the stomach
pertaining to the nose and stomach
Abbreviation: NG
gastrostomy // jejunostomy
administer drugs to patients who cannot take oral drugs using a surgically implanted feeding tube to deliver liquid drugs directly into the stomach
vaginal route
used to treat vaginal infections by means of creams, ointments, and suppositories
intravesical route
used to treat the pain and burning of inflammation and infection in the bladder
rectal route
reserved for situations in which a patient is vomiting or unconscious and the drug cannot be orally or by injection.
parenteral route
theoretically includes all routes of administration other than oral route. In actual clinical usage, parenteral administration commonly includes theses routes; intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous.
intradermal route
involves using a syringe to inject a liquid drug into the dermis, the layer of the skin just below the epidermis or skin surface
subcutaneous route
involves using a syringe to inject liquid drug into the subcutaneous tissue (the fatty layer of tissue just beneath the dermis off the skin but above the muscle layer
intramuscular route
involves injection of a liquid drug into the belly of the muscle (area of greatest mass)
intravenous route
involves injection of a liquid drug into a vein. it bypasses the step of absorption from the tissues or from the intestine
central venous line
used continuously to administer intravenous fluids or drugs to critically ill patients or intermittently to administer chemotherapy drugs to patients with cancer.
Endotracheal tube
administer drugs through an endotracheal tube inserted through the mouth into the trachea
implantable port
special intravenous access device used to administer a chemotherapy drug to treat cancer. a thin metal or plastic reservoir that is placed in the patient’s subcutaneous tissue
intra-arterial
administration of a chemotherapy drug directly into the area of a cancerous tumor
pertaining to within the artery
intra-articular
used to administer a drug into a joint
pertaining to within a joint
intracardiac
is only used during emergency resuscitation associated with cardiac arrest. route is used to administer a drug; a needle is inserted through the chest wall, between the ribs, and into one of the heart chambers.
pertaining to within the heart
intrathecal and epideral
used to administer drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid that circulates around the spinal cord
pertaining to within the dura meter
and above the dura meter
intraperitoneal
used to administer drugs or fluids into the abominal cavity
umbilical artery or vein
accessible only in newborn infants before the umbilical cord has dried. used to administer intravenous fluids and draw blood. not used to give drugs
absorption
involves movement of a drug from the site of administration through tissues and into the blood.
distribution
as a drug enters the blood, some of the drug binds to circulating plasma proteins. these large molecules have indentations in their molecular surfaces that permit drug molecules to bind to them.
metabolism
aka biotransformation.
drug is gradually transformed or metabolized from its original active form to a less active, or even inactive form. process is accomplished in the liver, the principal organ of metabolism, by the action of liver enzymes.
excretion
a step in ridding the body of waist products and removing active drugs that not metabolized by the liver. principal organ of drug excretion is kidney.
Abbreviation A.D. A.S. A.U. O.D. O.S. O.U.
Latin Meaning Medical Meaning
auris dextra right ear
auris sinistra left ear
auris unitas/uterque both ears // each ear
oculus dexter right eye
oculus sinister left eye
oculus unitas/uterque both eyes // each eye
subQ, SQ, subcu
abbreviated for subcutaneous route
IM
abbreviated for intramuscular route
IV
abbreviated for intravenous
p.o.
abbreviated for oral route
NG
abbreviated for nasogastric route
NPO
Latin for ‘nil per os’, meaning “nothing through the mouth”
patients who are not to receive drugs, fluids, or food by mouth.