Oral Administration Of Medicines

Question 1

What are the 2 routes of orally administering drugs?

Answer 1

Sublingual and buccal

Question 2

Why use a tablet?

Answer 2

1. Convenient to use,
2. Can provide accurate dose,
3. Formulation can be adjusted,
4. Can be a sustained release.

Question 3

Disadvantages of using a tablet…

Answer 3

1. Must not be chewed,
2. Must not be broken to divide dose,
3. Must not be taken with milk
4. It must be ensured that patient takes the drug.

Question 4

Why use a capsule?

Answer 4

1. Useful for bitter tasting drugs.

Question 5

Disadvantage of a capsule…

Answer 5

Can be large and hard to swallow.

Question 6

What is meant by sublingual?

Answer 6

Drug is placed under the tongue and absorbed quickly through the mucosa.

Question 7

Formulations of sublingual drugs?

Answer 7

Sprays or uncoated tablets.

Question 8

What is meant by buccal?

Answer 8

Uncoated tablet placed between the gums and the cheek (usually the upper lip).

Question 9

Advantage of the buccal route?

Answer 9

Rapid absorption.

Question 10

Disadvantage of the buccal route?

Answer 10

Increased risk of dental problems.

Question 11

What is a compound medicine?

Answer 11

Two or more medicines in the same tablet.

(indicated by ‘co’ e.g. co-codamol.

Question 12

What is the base of an elixir?

Answer 12

Alcohol.

Question 13

What is a syrup?

Answer 13

A flavoured or sweetened liquid.

Question 14

How is the concentration of a liquid expressed?

Answer 14

mg/mL

Question 15

What is an emulsion?

Answer 15

A mixture of 2 liquids.

eg (oral nutritional supplements)

Question 16

What is a linctus?

Answer 16

A sweet and syrupy preparation which can be mixed with aromatics to make a soothing medication. e.g. cough medicines.

Question 17

What should be used when measuring a dose for an infant?

Answer 17

A syringe.

Question 18

What should be written on the label of a drug?

Answer 18

1. Name of product,
2. Formulation,
3. Strength,
4. Quantity,
5. Information about excipients,
6. Storage instructions,
7. Method and route of administration.

Question 19

How should a drug be stored?

Answer 19

1. In orignal packaging,
2. In a locked cupboard/ fridge,
3. Away from direct sunlight.

Question 20

What documentation should be completed when administering medication?

Answer 20

Prescribing and recording sheet, this is kept in a documents trolley or at the patients bedside.

Question 21

What must a nurse do when administering drugs?

Answer 21

1. Identify the patient correctly,
2. Give an explanation to the patient,
3. Avoid all interruptions.

Question 22

What is the technique when administering medications?

Answer 22

1. Hands should be clean,
2. Ideally place patient in an upright position,
3. If possible, patient should place medication in mouth themselves.
4. A nurse must witness medication being taken.
5. Record fluid taken on patient’s fluid balance sheet.
6. Retain rejected medicines.

Question 23

What are the hazards of oral administration?

Answer 23

1. Medicine may be given to wrong patient.
2. A nurse may be interrupted leading to an error.
3. Medicines may be given too early or too late.

Question 24

What is the formulation for calculating tablet dosage?

Answer 24

Amount of drug prescribed / Amount of drug in each tablet = Number of tablets required.

Question 25

What is the formulation for calculating liquid dosage?

Answer 25

Dose prescribed/ stock strength X volume in which stock is dissolved = Volume required