Routes of administration Flashcards
Advantages of oral administration?
- convenient for the patient
2. large surface area for absorption
Disadvantages of oral administration?
- not all patients can take it
- absorption ability of drug varies. Unique patient gastric
- absorption rate can vary or can be interrupted depending on the stomach contents
- degrades in the stomach (first pass metabolism)
What is bioavailability?
Amount of drug that circulates intact
What is topical administration?
Applying drugs onto bodily surfaces i.e. skin
Advantages of topical administration?
Convenient for patient
low risks of overdosing
Disadvantages?
it has adverse effects on skin e.g. skin thinning by hydrocortisone
What is Transdermal Adminstration?
Administration of drugs across the skin e.g. nicotine patches
Advantages of transdermal administration?
Long acting-> especially advantageous when you want sugar levels to be low for a long time
suitable for a range of patient group
Disadvantages of transdermal administration
Adverse skin effects
Drug needs to be really potent and lipid soluble
Advantages of Rectal administration
Local effect
beneficial for patients who are vomiting/unable to swallow
Disadvantages of rectal administration?
Need to train to administer
Examples of rectal drugs?
antifungals
analgesics (painkillers)
prednisolone (reduces inflammation)
diazepam (muscle relaxant)
Advantages of the inhalation administration
causes rapid response due to large absorption surface area
local/systemic effect
Disadvantages of inhalation?
difficulties to ensure drug reaches target cells
patient needs to be train to use it
Examples of drugs that are inhaled?
halothane (anaesthetic)
nitrous oxide (anaesthetic)
GTN
salbutamol (bronchodilator)
