Routes of Drug Administration

A medication that has been ingested alters chemically and metabolically. The medicine is now less readily available at the body's ultimate site of action as a result of these modifications. For instance, some medications may not be productive when taken orally but may be useful when given intravenously. The optimal method of drug delivery helps to achieve the medicine's full therapeutic benefit by reducing or avoiding these alterations. Additionally, when given through a specific route as opposed to another, some medications are more fully absorbed. 100% bioavailability is achieved when the medication is administered intravenously. There are various factors that influence a drug's preferred method of administration. These include drug characteristics, the targeted location of action, the rate and amount of absorption from the drug administration site, and the drug administration site itself. The effect of digestive juices and first pass metabolism, the speed with which the required reaction is achieved in an emergency or during normal therapy, the need for precise dosing, the patient's condition and compliance. The Various routes of Drug Administration includes:
1. Gastrointestinal route
a) Oral route
b) Sublingual route
c) Buccal route
d) Rectal route

2. Parenteral route
a) Intradermal
b) Sub-cutaneous
c) Intramuscular
d) Intravenous

3.Topical route
a) Transdermal patches
b) Instillations
c) Irrigation or Douching
d) Epidermic and enepidermic routes
e) Throat paints

4. Inhalation route