Depending on the pathology, the ways of administering drugs are also chosen so that they affect the body as quickly and efficiently as possible. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of certain methods of administering drugs, you can choose the most optimal option for each patient.
Medicines are often prescribed and used enterally. "What is it like?" - you ask. In another way, you can say: through the digestive tract. This method is divided into the following introductions.
Buccal (cheek)
The therapeutic effect of drugs with buccal administration develops quickly, and at the same time, the absorption time increases due to the use of special forms of drugs: discs, patches that are glued to the inner surface of the cheek. However, frequent use of this method leads to irritation of the mucous membranes.
Sublingual - what does it mean?
Rapid absorption of drugs in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity is carried out when taken under the tongue. Advantages of this method:the substance enters directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the aggressive effects of digestive juice and liver enzymes; rapid vasodilating effect in hypertensive crises; relief of angina attacks. Disadvantages: when swallowing part of the drug, the therapeutic effect is reduced; dosage form (pellets, tablets, granules) should be kept under the tongue until completely dissolved; the development of side effects - irritation of the oral mucosa. So, sublingual - what does that mean? This means taking the drug under the tongue.
Vaginal (into the vagina) and urethral (into the urethra)
These routes of administration are used mainly for the treatment of infectious diseases of the female and male genital organs. Dosage forms are administered vaginally: suspensions, creams, tablets, emulsions, ointments, suppositories. These methods have also been used for diagnostic purposes for the introduction of contrast agents.
Oral (by mouth)
This is the most common enteral route for drug administration. Many dosage forms of drugs are taken by mouth. The active substances contained in medicines enter the blood from the gastrointestinal tract. Therapeutic concentration is reached in the blood on average 10-15 minutes after taking the drug. Interaction with digestive juice, enzymes, food fragments is carried out when taking medications enterally. This is both taking drugs immediately after meals, and during meals.
So drugs are under attackvarious chemicals in an acidic environment. The most favorable time for taking drugs is the period thirty minutes before meals. At this time, they will not be exposed to gastric juice and, in the absence of nutrients, are absorbed into the blood to the maximum extent. There are dosage forms coated with a special composition, thanks to which the drug passes unchanged through the stomach and dissolves only in the small intestine, which has a weak alkaline environment.
Rectal (into the rectum)
A special place among the enteral routes of drug administration is given to this method. With the rectal route of administration, rapid absorption occurs and the maximum therapeutic concentration of the active substance in the human body is reached in a short time. Through the rectum, drugs are administered in various dosage forms. As a result of this introduction, they are not destroyed by liver enzymes and digestive juice. Compared with oral administration, the therapeutic effect is three times higher.
The advantage of the enteral route of administration through the rectum is the only way to help the patient in cases of his inability to swallow or being unconscious, with vomiting, lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. And also the advantages of this method of administration include:
- no or minimal allergic reactions or side effects;
- proven effectiveness of rectal drugs for the treatment of children, the elderly, pregnant women (duringtoxicosis);
- a wide range of proposed dosage forms for the treatment of various pathological conditions.
The disadvantages of this enteral route are:
- when administered rectally, only local effects occur;
- rectal mucosa is irritated;
- inconvenient to use;
- Psychologically, not every patient can use this route of administration.
Enteral route of administration: advantages and disadvantages
Drugs administered in this way have both local and systemic effects on the body.
Advantages of this route of drug administration:
- Convenience and ease of use for all ages;
- most common method;
- patients do not need the help of medical professionals;
- complications characteristic of parenteral use of medications are excluded;
Disadvantages of the enteral route:
- active substances are retained in the gastrointestinal tract, as a result, absorption into the bloodstream slows down;
- drugs are highly acidic;
- drugs are deactivated in the liver;
- absorption of drugs is affected by the state of the gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes;
- The pharmacological action of drugs is influenced by the age of the patient, the presence of diseases.
Another way to administer drugs is the parenteral route.
The administration of drugs by this method bypasses the digestive tract and is divided into the following administrations.
Intravenous
Benefits of this method:
- Quick effect.
- You can accurately calculate the required concentration of the drug for a particular patient, which is especially important for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.
- Drugs are injected that irritate mucous membranes, decompose quickly, or react chemically with digestive juices.
Intraarterial
It is used for perfusion of certain organs with active ingredients contained in drugs. Venous thrombosis is the most serious side effect of the parenteral route of administration of the drug.
Intramuscular
Therapeutic concentration of the drug in the body reaches a peak within 20 minutes, depending on the pharmacological group of the administered drug. The volume of the drug allowed for administration by this method should not exceed 10 ml. Disadvantages: unpleasant and painful sensations during and after drug administration; possible development of an abscess, entry into the blood vessel of the needle, damage to nerve fibers.
Subcutaneous
Not all drugs are suitable for this type of administration.
The therapeutic effect is slower than with intravenous or intramuscular injection, but also lasts longer.
Inhalation
With this type of administration, the drug in the form of an aerosol, powder or gas is absorbed fairly quickly. It has a local and sometimes a general effect.
Intrathecal
In this type of administration, the drug is injected directly into the subarachnoid space and is used in cases of:
- anesthesia: spinal or spinal;
- creating a high concentration of antibacterial or hormonal drugs.
When applied topically, the drug is applied to the mucous membranes (nose, eyes, skin) or the surface of the skin in order to create both a localized and a systemic effect.
Disadvantages: with prolonged use, especially hormonal drugs, side reactions often develop in the form of irritation.
With the help of the physiotherapeutic procedure of electrophoresis, drugs from the surface under the influence of current are transferred to the deep layers of the skin, providing the necessary pharmacological effect.
Special Blends
Enteral mixtures are prescribed and used to treat various diseases:
- diabetes;
- renal, liver, respiratory failure;
- dysbiosis and other diseases of the digestive system.
Nutritional formulas have a beneficial effect on the human body due to the presence of prebiotics:
- normalize the work of the stomach and colon;
- improve intestinal motility and absorptionactive ingredients;
- promote the regeneration of the epithelial tissue of the large intestine;
- reduce the rate of glucose absorption;
- affect cholesterol reduction.
Properly selected method of drug administration for a particular patient, taking into account the development of side effects, the minimum period of onset of the pharmacological action of the drug, as well as taking into account its condition, is one of the tasks facing the medical worker.
