Unit 1 Description of a Pharmacy Grammar

Sublingual Administration.

In this route of administration, drugs are not swallowed but are placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve in the saliva. Absorption may be rapid for some agents. Nitroglycerine tablets are taken this way to treat attacks of chest pain.

Rectal Administration. Suppositories.

Sometimes, drugs are given by rectum when oral administration presents difficulties such as, when the patient is nauseating and vomiting.

Parenteral Administration.

This type of administration is accomplished by injection through a syringe under the skin, into a muscle, into a vein or into a body cavity. There are several types of parenteral injections:

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  Subcutaneous injection. This injection is sometimes called hypodermic, and is given just under several layers of the skin. The outer surface of the arm and the anterior surface of the skin are usually locations for subcutaneous injections.
  
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  Intradermal injection. This shallow injection is made into the upper layers of the skin. It is used in skin testing for allergic reactions.
  
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  Intramuscular injection (I.M.). This injection is given into the muscle usually into the buttocks. When drugs are irritating the skin or a large volume of a long-acting drug is to be given, I.M. injections are advisable.
  
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  Intravenous injection (I.V.). This injection is given directly into the veins. It is given when an immediate effect from the drug is desired or when the drug cannot be given into other tissues.
  
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  Intrathecal injection is made in the case of anesthesia into the sheath of the spine marrow and the brain.
  
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  Intracavitary injections are given into the body cavities: thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity and others.
  

Inhalation.

In this method of administration, vapours, or gases are taken into the nose or mouth and are absorbed into the blood stream through the thin walls of the air sacks in the lungs (alveoli).