Understanding Drug Administration Routes Drug administration routes are crucial for effective treatment, depending on pharmacokinetics and drug movement. These include enteral (oral, sublingual, buccal), parenteral (injections like IV or intramuscular), topical applications, and inhalation techniques. Each route has specific advantages based on absorption speed and targeted delivery.
Enteral Route: Oral Medication Insights Orally administered drugs pass through the digestive system with varying effects due to stomach acidity or alkalinity. Tablets dissolve slowly while capsules protect sensitive drugs from gastric acids until reaching alkaline environments in intestines. This method is convenient but may cause nausea or delayed action.
Sublingual & Buccal Methods for Rapid Absorption Drugs placed under the tongue (sublingual) or between gums and cheek (buccal) bypass digestion directly entering bloodstream via mucous membranes. They provide quick relief especially useful in emergencies like hypertension using nitroglycerin tablets.
'Parenterals': Injection-Based Delivery Systems Injections deliver medication directly into body tissues ensuring rapid effect—types include intravenous (IV), intramuscular(IM), subcutaneous(SC). Proper technique ensures efficacy; e.g., IM injections require 90-degree angle insertion targeting muscle layers avoiding veins/nerves beneath skin surface
'Topical Applications' For Localized Treatment. Topical methods involve applying creams/ointments onto affected areas providing localized therapeutic benefits without systemic involvement minimizing side-effects common examples anti-inflammatory gels treating joint pains dermatological conditions alike .
Injection Techniques and Angles The process of administering injections involves understanding specific angles for different types. Intramuscular (IM) injections are given at a 90-degree angle, while intradermal ones require an angle between 10 to 15 degrees. Proper technique ensures the drug reaches its target effectively without causing damage.
Arterial Blood Gas Testing Arterial blood gas (ABG) testing measures gases in arterial blood to assess respiratory function and acid-base balance. This test requires precise sampling from arteries rather than veins, ensuring accurate results for medical evaluation.
Intramuscular Injection Sites Key IM injection sites include gluteal muscles, ventrogluteal area, vastus lateralis muscle on the thigh's outer aspect, and deltoid muscle near the shoulder. Each site has unique advantages based on patient age or condition; proper selection minimizes risks like nerve damage.
'Ventrogluteal' as Preferred Site 'Ventrogluteal' is considered one of the safest IM injection sites due to minimal risk of sciatic nerve injury compared with other areas such as dorsogluteals or thighs—especially suitable across various ages including neonates/children too!