International Journal of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research E-ISSN 2229-4619
ROUTES OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION
The route of administration is the way through which the dosage form is administered into the body for
treatment of various diseases and disorders. Various routes of administrations play a marked role in the
bioavailability of the active drug in the body. In present review these routes are included with their
advantages and limitations.
Definition: - A route of administration in (1) Oral Route: - In this route the drug is
pharmacy is the path by which a drug is placed in the mouth and Swallowed.
taken into the body.
It is also called per oral (p.o.)
Advantages of Oral Route
Classification: -
• Convenient - Can be self-
The various routes of administrations are
administered, pain free, easy to take
classified into following categories:-
• Absorption - Takes place along the
1. Systemic Route
whole length of the gastro intestinal
A) Enteral route (B) Parenteral
tract
route
• Cheap - Compared to most other
1. Oral 1. Intravascular
parenteral routes
2. Sublingual 2. Intramuscular
3. Rectum 3. Subcutaneous Disadvantages of Oral Route
4. Inhalation • Sometimes inefficient - only part of
the drug may be absorbed
2. Local Route
• First-pass effect - drugs absorbed
orally are initially transported to the
Systemic Route: - In Systemic route the
liver via the portal vein
drug reaches to the systemic circulation
(Blood). Systemic Route is again classified • Irritation to gastric mucosa - nausea
into two classes:- and vomiting
(A) Enteral Route: - In this route the drug is • Destruction of drugs by gastric acid
placed in the Gastrointestinal Tract and then and digestive juices
it absorbs to the blood. • Effect too slow for emergencies
This route is further classified into three • Unpleasant taste of some drugs
classes: • Unable to use in unconscious patient
IJPSR/Vol. I/ Issue I/July-September,2010/Pg.54-59
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research E-ISSN 2229-4619
First-pass effect:- delivered to the liver via the portal
circulation. The greater the first-pass
This is effect which occurs with oral effect, the less the agent will reach the
route of administration. The first-pass systemic circulation when the agent is
effect is the term used for the hepatic
administered orally.
metabolism of a pharmacological agent
when it is absorbed from the gut and
Figure 2 First Pass Effect
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research E-ISSN 2229-4619
Examples of drugs which disintegrates and absorption occurs in the
undergo marked First Pass Effect:- mouth.
• Imipramine, Advantages
• Propranolol, Advantages of Sublingual and Buccal Route
• Lidocaine. of Administration are:-
Examples:- • Rapid absorption: - It’s readily
The example of dosage forms which are absorbed in the mouth.
used by oral route include
• Drug stability: - As in this route the
1. Tablet drug does not go to the stomach so it
2. Capsules is not destroyed by the enzymes and
3. Syrup, etc. acids present in the stomach so that it
Sublingual/Buccal route: - is stable.
In this route of administration the drug is • Avoid first-pass effect.
placed under the tongue. And it is taken
Figure 3 Sublingual Route
without the use of water. When it is placed Disadvantages
under the tongue it disintegrates there and • Inconvenient: - In this route the drug is
then absorption occurs in mouth. The kept in the mouth so it is inconvenient.
tablets are small in size which is to be used • Small Doses: - Small size is required to
through the sublingual route. (6) Example of keep the drug in the mouth.
Sublingual tablet is Nitroglycerine tablets • Unpleasant taste of some drugs: - The
Buccal Route drugs having unpleasant taste can
In this route of administration the drug is cause problem because the drug is
kept in the buccal cavity where it Figure 4 Buccal Routekept in the mouth.
IJPSR/Vol. I/ Issue I/July-September,2010/Pg.54-59
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research E-ISSN 2229-4619
Rectal Route 2. Absorption may be variable.
Many drugs that are administered orally can Examples: - 1.
also be administered rectally as a Suppositories
suppository. In this form, a drug is mixed 2. Vaginal Bogies
with a waxy substance that dissolves or 3. Urethral Bogies
liquefies after it is inserted into the rectum.
Because the rectum's wall is thin and its
(B) Parenteral Routes
blood supply rich, the drug is readily
In this route of administration the drug does
absorbed. A suppository is prescribed for
not pass through the gastrointestinal tract.
people who cannot take a drug orally
It directly reaches to the blood. It can
because they have nausea, cannot swallow,
further be classified into two classes:-
or have restrictions on eating, as is required
1. With injections: - in this class the drugs
after many surgical operations. Drugs that
are administered with the use of
are irritating in suppository form may have
to be given by injection. Injections
E.g. Intravascular,
Vaginal Route
Intramuscular,
Some drugs may be administered vaginally
Subcutaneous
to women as a solution, tablet, cream, gel,
suppository, or ring. The drug is slowly 2. Without injections: - in this class the
absorbed through the vaginal wall. This drugs are administered without use of
route is often used to give estrogen to injections.
women at menopause, because the drug e.g. Inhalations.
helps prevent thinning of the vaginal wall, With Injections: - 1.
an effect of menopause. Intravascular:-
Urethral Route In this route of administration the drug is
Some drugs are given through the urethra. directly taken into the blood with the help
This route is called urethral route of drug of injection. Absorption phase is bypassed.
administration. Advantages:-
Advantages of rectal/urethral/vaginal route 1. Precise, accurate and almost
are as follows:- immediate onset of action
1. Unconscious patients and children:- 2. Large quantities can be given, fairly
If the patient is unconscious then it is not pain free
possible to give the drug orally. So in 3. Can be given to
this situation the drug can be given unconscious patients.
through rectal/urethral/vaginal route.
4. Quick action
2. If patient is having nauseous or 5. Drugs having unpleasant taste can
vomiting be given.
Disadvantages:- Disadvantages:-
1. May cause irritation 1. Pain at the site of injection.
IJPSR/Vol. I/ Issue I/July-September,2010/Pg.54-59
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research E-ISSN 2229-4619
Figure 5 Injectable Route of Administration
2. Greater risk of adverse effects In this administration the
a. High concentration attained drug is administered in the gaseous
form.
rapidly
b. Risk of embolism Advantages:-
1. Rapid onset of action due to rapid
2. Intramuscular:- access to circulation.
In this route of administration the drug is 2. Pain not occurs because injection is
given into the muscles with the help of not used.
injection. Drug once reaches to the muscles, Examples:- 1.
absorbs into the blood. Inhalers.
1. Very rapid absorption of drugs in Local/Topical
aqueous solution Route of Drug
2. Depot and slow release preparations Administration
3. Pain at injection sites for certain In this route the drug is applied on the skin
drugs. and mucous membrane for the local action.
• Mucosal membranes (eye
3. Subcutaneous:- drops, antiseptic, sunscreen, callous
removal, nasal, etc.)
In this route of administration the drug is
given into the subcutaneous layer with the • Skin
help of injection. Drug once reaches to the • Dermal - Rubbing in of oil or
subcutaneous layer crosses the membrane ointment (local action).
and absorbs into the blood. • Transdermal - Absorption of drug
Without Injections:- through skin (systemic action)
In this class the drug is administered to the i. Stable blood levels
blood without going to the gastrointestinal ii. No first pass
tract. In this class the drug is not metabolism
. (1)
administered with the help of injections
IJPSR/Vol. I/ Issue I/July-September,2010/Pg.54-59
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Studies and Research E-ISSN 2229-4619
iii. Drug must be potent
Examples
1. Creams
2. Lotions
3. Gels, etc.
Onset of Action-
The length of time needed for a medicine
to give its action. This time varies for
different types of routes of administrations.
Onset of action of different routes is as
follows:-
• Intravenous 30-60 seconds
• Inhalation 2-3 minutes
• Sublingual 3-5 minutes
• Intramuscular 10-20 minutes
• Subcutaneous 15-30 minutes
• Rectal 5-30 minutes
• Oral 30-90 minutes
• Topical/transdermal (topical)
variable (minutes to hours).
PREPARED BY: Mr. Rubangakene Paul.
IJPSR/Vol. I/ Issue I/July-September,2010/Pg.54-59
