Administration of Medications Con't

Routes of Administration

Enteral: absorbed through GI tract
- Oral
- Nasogastric or gastrostomy tube
- Sublingual drugs diffuse into the blood through tissues under the tongue
- Buccal- in cheek; shown buccal swab commonly used to obtain DNA sample (CSI!)




Nasogastric (NG) tube: inserted through nasopharynx and into stomach



Gastrostomy tube: surgically placed directly into stomach




Sublingual

Sublingual: placed under tongue for dissolving

Used when rapid action is desired

Examples include nitroglycerin (for angina pectoris) and ergotamine tartrate (for migraines)

Buccal
Placed between gum and cheek for dissolving

Forms include tablets, capsules, lozenges, and troches

Should not be swallowed

Often used over sublingual route for sustained-release delivery




Parenteral Route of Administration
Parenteral: injected
Intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous, intradermal


Parenteral
+More quickly absorbed than oral route

+Irretrievable once injected

+Require invasive procedure

+Aseptic (sterile) technique must be used to avoid infection.

Equipment
Needles: pierce the skin to allow injection.

Syringes: contain and then transfer the medication into the body through needle.
Hypodermic, insulin, tuberculin

Ampules and vials: contain medication that is then drawn into syringe for injection.

Ampules: made of clear glass; usually contain single dose of drug; usually have pre-scored neck that is cut open; medication is then aspirated into syringe using filter needle

Vials: small glass bottles sealed with rubber cap; pierced with needle to withdraw medication







Intradermal Injection (ID) - Needle enters at 15° angle
Usually given in inner forearm or upper back just below epidermis into dermis

Commonly used for tuberculin or allergy tests, or to administer local anesthetics

Injection produces small wheal on skin’s outer surface

Subcutaneous Injection - 45º angle usually used, based on patient’s body weight

Usually given into upper arms, back, or abdomen

Commonly used for heparin and insulin

Small volumes of medication (0.5 to 1 mL) are given subcutaneous.


Intramuscular (IM) Injections - 90º injection into the muscular tissue

Usually given into upper arm, thigh, or hip muscles

Commonly used for drugs that irritate subcutaneous tissue

1 to 3 mL of medication can be given IM.

Intravenous (IV)
Injected directly into veins, usually in arms

May be administered:
Slowly
rapidly (IV push)
piggyback infusion- adding a second
drug to the same line, ie. antibiotics
into existing IV line (IV port)
into intermittent access device (heparin lock), or added to IV solution

IV needles are inserted into veins at a short angle to the skin.

Transdermal Route

Transdermal patches provide sustained-release administration.
Examples include: Nicotine, Nitroglycerin, Estrogen



Ophthalmic Route

Medications are administered to the eyes using instillations or irrigations with liquids or ointments.

Sterile technique is required.

Prescribed liquids are usually diluted to less than 1% strength.

Eye irrigations are used to wash out conjuctival sac.


Otic Route

Localized infection or inflammation of the ears is treated by dropping a small amount of sterilized medication into ear.

Patient should remain lying on one side for 5 minutes to allow coating of inner ear canal with medication.


Nasal Route
Nasal decongestants are most common nasal instillations.
Many of these medications are OTC drugs.
Administered with dropper or via sprays; usually while patient is supine with head tilted back

Inhalation Route
Inhalation therapy may involve the administration of medicines, water vapor, and gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and helium.

Local effects are achieved within the respiratory tract through aerosols, nebulizers, or metered-dose inhalers.

Commonly administered by nebulizer
Delivers fine fog or mist using atomization or aerosolization

Atomization: larger droplets are inhaled

Aerosolization: droplets are suspended in gas such as oxygen (the smaller the droplets, the further they can be inhaled into the respiratory system)





Vaginal Route


Vaginal medications, or instillations, include creams, jellies, foams, or suppositories

Suppositories are inserted with the finger of a gloved hand; they melt at body temperature.

Vaginal creams may be instilled by using an applicator.

Rectal Route
Rectal medications are usually suppositories.

This route is useful for patients who are nauseated, vomiting, or unconscious.

Other rectal medications are available as solutions that are administered in the form of enemas.