Routes of Drug Administration

Question 1

Name 8 oral drug formulations.

Answer 1

Tablets, capsules, caplets, chewables, powders, granules, bouses, pastes

Question 2

Describe the formulations of a tablet.

Answer 2

Only part is active . Remainder is inert ingredients.

Question 3

Why add inert ingredients?

Answer 3

May be used to bind drug.

May have an impact on how drug is absorbed.

Question 4

Describe the formulation of a capsule.

Answer 4

Made from 2 gelatine halves which fit together with powdered drug within.
Drug may have different sized granules which creates a sustained release and means giving drug less often.
Gelatine capsules protect from unpleasant taste.
Gelatine capsules play a part in when the drug is absorbed.

Question 5

Enteric coating?

Answer 5

Prevents stomach acid breaking town tablet before it reaches small intestine.
Protects stomach from irritant nature of drug.
Hides taste.
Protects drug from atmosphere.

Question 6

Gut transit time?

Answer 6

Time it takes for drug to travel through the GI tract.

Question 7

Name 2 main liquid drug formulations

Answer 7

Solution = disolved in liquid, doesn’t settle.

Suspension - will separate when left to stand, not disolved.

Question 8

Injectable drug containers?

Answer 8

Ampule = single use airtight glass container
Single Dose = vaccine vial with rubber stopper
Multi-dose = larger bottle with rubber stopper
Large volume bags = IVFT

Question 9

Equipment needed for oral drug administration?

Answer 9

PPE, pill gun, syringe, stomach tube, drug

Question 10

What factors influence the time it takes for oral medication to be absorbed?

Answer 10

Can take longer because of the time taken to dissolve meaning limited drug available for absorption at any given time.
Stomach can delay absorption depoending on timing of feeding.
Irritant drugs may cause vomiting.
Low pH of stomach can destroy some of the drug.
Drugs may dissolve into the stomach contents.

Question 11

s/c injections

Answer 11

• can be administered anywhere on body where there is enough loose skin
• rate of absorption is slow and continuous
• fatty areas should be avoided as blood supply is poor
• good for tranquilisers and sedatives

Question 12

i/m injections

Answer 12

• used for irritant drugs and suspensions
• areas include neck, lumbar and quads
• can inject in more than one area if large amount
• can damage a nerve or hit blood vessel
• painful

Question 13

i/v injections

Answer 13

• has to be water soluble
• advantages include; rapid effects, pricise control of dosage, good for IVFT
• sites: cephalic, jugular, saphenous
• complications: blow vein, collapsed vein, infection, perivascular injection
• haemorrhage