Parenterals Route Flashcards
What is parenterals route commonly referred as?
Drug administration by injection
What are the different routes?
Intravenous Intrathecal, epidural + intraspinal Intra-arterial + intracardiac Intradermal Subcutaneous Intramuscular Intra-articular Intra-ocular
What are the advantages?
Rapid onset of action
Delayed onset possible through intramuscular
Infusion of drugs for prolonged period
Avoids 1st-pass metabolism
Unconscious patients
Allows higher conc of drug in system/local
Why is it good that infusion of drugs is for prolong period?
Maintain steady-state plasma levels
Why is it good it avoids 1st-pass metabolism?
Improves bioavailability
What are the disadvantages?
Require professionals Potential risk Needle-stick injuries Poor patient acceptability Formulation + manufacture cost high Shelf-life shorter than oral Refrigerated = extra cost
Describe intravenous (IV)
Surface vein
1ml to several litres for infusion
Increases plasma drug conc
100% drug absorption
What is the infusion for intravenous?
Diluted in a bag = produces slow + controlled drug release rate
What emulsions cannot be used for IV?
W/O = block blood vessels
What do hypertonic/extreme drug pH solutions cause in IV?
Inflammation + pain at injection site
How is IV infused?
Central line into major vessel
= allows rapid diffusion by large blood vol
Describe intra-arterial
Like IV except via artery
More invasive + less accessible
Only used when no IV access
When may there be no IV access?
Premature babies
When is intracardiac used + why?
Only used life-threatening emergencies
= to produce rapid, local effect in heart
Describe intradermal
Inject into skin between epidermis + dermis
Up to 0.2ml
Absorption slow
Why is absorption slow in intradermal?
Little interstitial fluid to facilitate drug diffusion at injection site
= not-well perfused by blood
What is intradermal used for?
Immunological diagnostic tests + vaccinations
eg. BCG
Describe subcutaneous
Hypodermic injections
Inject into loose connective + adipose tissues below dermal skin layer
Where is subcutaneous injected + why?
Abdomen, upper arms/legs
= highly vascularised = absorption rapid + predictable
What can be injected subcutaneously?
Aq solutions or suspensions
Up to 1ml
What is an example of subcutaneous injection?
Insulin
Describe intramuscular
Into tissue of relaxed muscle = butt, thigh or shoulder
Up to 4ml
Slower than SC
What can be injected intramuscularly?
Aq or oily solutions or suspensions
What are the 2 intra-spinal routes?
Intrathecal
Epidural
Describe intrathecal
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in subarachnoid space or spinal canal
100% absorption in CSF
Vol up to 10ml
What does intrathecal route allow drugs to do?
Bypass BBB
What are examples of intrathecal route into CSF?
Anticancer drugs
Antibiotics for meningitis
Analgesic
Describe epidural
Space between dura mater + vertebrae
Must be aq isotonic
Cannot include preservatives
What are examples of epidural?
Spinal anaesthesia - long-acting steroid
Describe intra-articular
Into synovial fluid of joint cavities
100% drug absorption at site of action
What is intra-articular suitable for?
Aq solutions/suspensions
What is an example of intra-articular route?
Anti-inflammatory drugs to treat arthritic conditions or sport injuries
What are the 2 routes for intraocular?
Intracameral
Intravitreal
What is the intraocular route?
Into eye
Describe intracameral
Into anterior chamber (front lens)
0.1-1ml
Antibiotics, local anaesthetics
Describe intravitreal
Into vitreous chamber
Treat ocular diseases
What precaution must be taken + why with intravitreal route?
Max vol 0.1ml
= minimise risk of rising intraocular pressure + damage
What must all parenteral preparations be?
Sterile
Why must be sterile?
Drug formulations directly injected into blood/body tissue
Why are excipients used?
Adjust isotonicity Adjust pH \+ drug solubility \+ drug stability \+ shelf-life Preservative
Why does isotonicity need to be adjusted?
To match human blood
What should excipients not do?
Adversely affect drug action or cause any side effects?toxicity
What are endotoxins?
Lipopolysaccharides found in outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria
What are pyrogens?
Substances that cause fever, typically produced by bacteria/viruses
What must parenteral preparations be free from?
Endotoxins + pyrogens
Particulates
What must all products comply with?
Tests for bacterial endotoxins + pyrogens
What can contain particulates?
IM
SC
Intra-articular
What happens if there is any suspended particles?
Travel through venous system to lung
= prevent blood flow
= pulmonary embolism