Drug administration

Question 1

Background questions

Answer 1

• Have any other medicines or administration routes been considered?
• Are there any restrictions on the choice of administration route?
• What other routes are available?
  Venflon, Enteral feeding tube, SC pump

Question 2

Are there any restrictions on the choice of administration route?

Answer 2

• Diarrhoea (rectal not suitable)
• Eczema/burns/sensitive skin (patches not suitable)
• Increased bleeding risk (SC/IM not suitable)

Question 3

Nil-by-mouth (NBM)

Answer 3

• What medicines/doses are they taking?
  (Do they need all - can any be suspended)
• How long are they likely to be NBM?
• Have any other routes of administration been considered?

Question 4

Ocular administration (order or administration)

Answer 4

• What medicines are they taking?
• What are the doses?

Question 5

Ocular administration: number of bottles to dispense

Answer 5

• How long will the patient be using the eye drops?
• Both or one eye?
• Dose and frequency?

Question 6

Nebuliser administration

Answer 6

• What medicines are to be nebulised?
• Dose and frequency?
• What type of nebuliser?

Question 7

Swallowing difficulties

Answer 7

• What medicines/doses are they taking?
• What is the difficulty level, i.e. can they swallow thin liquids?
• Is swallowing likely to improve? If so, when?
• Are thickened fluids or sip feeds being used?
• Have any other methods of administration been considered/tried?
• What other routes of administration are available?
  (If they have an enteral feeding tube, ask enteral
  feeding tube questions)

Question 8

Enteral feeding tube

Answer 8

What type of feeding tube do they have?
What feeding regime is being used?
Which feed is being given?
- Consider interactions between medicines and enteral feeds.
Have any other methods of administration been considered/tried?
What medicines/doses are they taking?