ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION AND ABSORPTION OF DRUGS AND SUPPLEMENTS




See all supplements antioxidants






We have seen the differences between medications and supplements.

Today we want to do some 'clarity about the different routes of administration of these.


DRUGS

There are two main routes of drug administration, enteral and parenteral.

The enteral route is divided into:
  • orally or OS is the most common route of administration, which occurs by mouth;
  • sublingually that provides for the placement of the drug under the tongue, so that passes directly into the bloodstream without passing through the gastro-intestinal tract;
  • rectally, as the sublingual, allows the drug to not be destroyed from the stomach acid, or later, from the basic gut.


The parenteral route allows the drug to directly reach the bloodstream causing a pharmacological fast. It is also indicated for those drugs that are poorly absorbed enterally or that otherwise are degraded from the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines). The three main routes of administration are:

  • Endovascular or Intravenous (IV) is the most common parenteral route. In this way it has a rapid effect (faster than via IM or SC) and a good control of the levels of circulating drug. Also avoids all the causes responsible for the inactivation of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract. It 'also used for the injection of drugs that would be irritating when administered by other routes as the medicine is quickly diluted in the blood stream. Must be done very slowly and always by medical personnel. The vein most used for administration is that of the forearm.
  • Intramuscular (IM): The muscles are much less sensitive blood supply and subcutaneous tissue, so the drug is tolerated. Drugs administered by this route may be in the form of aqueous solutions with rapid absorption preparations or special non-aqueous (oily) with function of deposit in the muscle causing a slow release of the active substance in the blood and prolonged action over time. The sites most commonly used for injection are the deltoid muscle of the arm and buttock.
  • Subcutaneous (SC): this route of administration has a slower absorption compared to intravenous and limits the risk due to the injection IM. E 'used to administer small volumes of drug. The recommended injection sites are: upper outer arm, the area around the navel and the front of the thighs.


Other routes of administration are:
  • Inhalation: drugs used with gaseous state or for those that can be dispersed in an aerosol. And 'effective in patients with respiratory problems (asthma, bronchitis, etc.) because the drug acts directly on the site of action (respiratory system), thus reducing the general side effects.
  • Topical: the drug is applied to the skin or mucous membranes to be then rapidly absorbed or otherwise acting directly on the external injury; this way is used to obtain a local effect of the drug (creams, ointments, eye drops, ear drops or nasal) minimizing the side effects affecting the whole body (gastrointestinal disturbances, fluid retention, headaches, etc.).
  • Transdermal: you have general effects through the application of drugs to the skin as for example by means of a patch. In this way there is a very slow release of the drug.
  • Intrathecal / intraventricular.  


The choice of the route of administration of a drug depends mainly on the target to be hit with a given active substance. You also need to take into account:

- The pharmaceutical form;

- The speed to achieve a certain effect;

- The effect's duration;

- The state of health of the patient.



To vary the route of administration, varies l 'absorption of the substance by the body:

ADMINISTRATION FOR OS variable absorption, which depends on many factors, the effects appear after at least 45-60 minutes is the most economical and safest RECTAL ADMINISTRATION incomplete and variable absorption has a latency of less action than the oral route
SUBINGUINAL ADMINISTRATION rapid absorption effect appears after a few minutes used in emergency increased risk of side effects
INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION 100% immediate absorption used in emergency increased risk of side effects
ADMINISTRATION INTRAMUSCOLAR rapid absorption for aqueous solutionsslow absorption and prolonged by the slow-release preparations
SUBCUTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION rapid absorption for aqueous solutions slow and prolonged absorption for the slow-release preparations
ADMINISTRATION TRANSDERMIC limited absorption (low penetration rate) 


SUPPLEMENTS

In the case of food supplements, the dose is administered mainly ORAL.





Antioxidant Supplements

Supplements for Menopause

Supplements for Metabolism

Supplements for Weight Control

Supplements for Skin