Medication Routes Overview

Overview

This lecture covers the different routes of medication administration, focusing on both non-injectable (non-parenteral) and injectable (parenteral) methods, including examples and key abbreviations.

Non-Parenteral (Non-injectable) Routes

• Non-parenteral routes do not involve injections and are generally easier and more convenient.
• Oral (PO): Medications taken by mouth, absorbed via the GI tract; examples include tablets and liquids; slower onset, must be able to swallow.
• Sublingual (SL) and Buccal: Placed under the tongue (SL) or in the cheek (buccal); faster absorption by bypassing the GI tract.
• Inhaled: Medications are inhaled into the lungs for rapid absorption (e.g., inhalers, nebulizers).
• Nasal: Administered through the nose, absorbed via nasal mucosa; acts locally to reduce systemic effects.
• Ophthalmic: Given through the eyes as drops or ointments (OU: both eyes, OD: right eye, OS: left eye).
• Otic: Given in the ears as drops (AU: both ears, AD: right ear, AS: left ear).
• Rectal (PR): Administered through the rectum for systemic or local effect (e.g., suppositories).
• Vaginal (PV): Administered vaginally for local effect (e.g., creams, suppositories).
• Topical: Applied to skin or mucous membranes for a local effect (e.g., creams, gels).
• Transdermal (TD): Medication absorbed through the skin for a systemic effect (e.g., medicated patches).

Parenteral (Injectable) Routes

• Parenteral routes involve injections and bypass the GI tract for faster action but require needles.
• Intravenous (IV): Directly into a vein; includes IV push (bolus), continuous infusion, and intermittent infusion.
• Intramuscular (IM): Injected into large muscles (deltoid, thigh, buttocks); used for irritant medications.
• Subcutaneous (SQ/SC/SubQ): Injected just under the skin into fat; slower absorption, suitable for small volumes (~2ml); e.g., insulin.
• Intradermal (ID): Injected into the top skin layer; used for small amounts (e.g., TB tests).
• Other routes: Intra-arterial (IA: into artery), intracardiac (IC: into heart), intrathecal (around spinal cord), intraocular (into eye), intraperitoneal (abdominal cavity), intra-articular (into joint).

Key Terms & Definitions

• Route of Administration — Method by which a drug is placed into the body.
• Non-parenteral — Non-injectable routes (e.g., oral, topical).
• Parenteral — Injectable routes (e.g., IV, IM, SQ).
• PO — By mouth (oral).
• SL — Sublingual (under the tongue).
• BUCCAL — In the cheek.
• OU/OD/OS — Both eyes/right eye/left eye.
• AU/AD/AS — Both ears/right ear/left ear.
• PR — Rectal.
• PV — Vaginal.
• TD — Transdermal (through the skin).
• IV — Intravenous (into a vein).
• IM — Intramuscular (into a muscle).
• SQ/SC/SubQ — Subcutaneous (under the skin).
• ID — Intradermal (into the skin).
• IA — Intra-arterial (into an artery).
• IC — Intracardiac (into the heart).

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review the key abbreviations and definitions for each route of administration.
• Practice identifying the appropriate route for different medication types.