DRUG ABSORPTION

I. Absorption of Atropine

( Could not be conducted due to unavailability of atropine and the kittens. Pharmacy, vet
clinics and close friend vet doctors are not allowed to provide the student atropine.
References and documentaries are from classmates who performed and presented to
other classmate on google meet who are not able to perform. )

Table 1. Time of occurrence of mydriasis after different routes of atropine administration.

Grp Topical Subcutaneous Intramuscular Intravenous
Before After Time Before After Time Before After Time Before After Time
1 20 20 12:02 12:23 21 11:36 11:41 5
mins mins pm pm mins am am mins

Table 2. Time of occurrence of heart rate change after different routes of atropine administration.
Grp Topical Subcutaneous Intramuscular Intravenous
Heart Rate Time Heart Rate Time Heart Rate Time Heart Rate Time
Before Before Before Before
After After After After
1 154 210 30 120 180 45 204 252 21 162 216 5
bpm bpm mins bpm bpm mins bpm bpm mins bpm bpm mins

II. Effect of Local Cold or Warm Application on the Absorption of Drug Given
Subcutaneously

Secure two kittens or pups for each group, calculate the dose of atropine (0.1 mg/kg) and
administer the drug subcutaneously. Before drug administration observe the pupil size and record
the heart rates for each animal. Before injection and immediately after injection apply warm
compress to one animal and cold pack to the other animal at the site of atropine injection. Follow
the previous procedure in part II, record and tabulate the time of occurrence of mydriasis and
tachycardia for each animal.

Table 3. Time of occurrence of mydriasis and heart rate change after cold and warm packs
applications to the sites of subcutaneous atropine injection.
Grp Cold Warm Cold Warm
Pupil Size Time Pupil Size Time Heart Rate Time Heart Rate Time
Before Before Before Before
After After After After
1

Questions

1. Describe the factors that influence absorption of drugs for parenteral and non-parenteral
routes of drug administration.

➢ Formulation - In addition to the active form, inactive substances excipients,

binders and diluents are included when pharmaceuticals are manufactured. They
are generally inactive, but they can affect bioavailability when they interact with
medicines.

➢ concentration - If the concentration is higher, then the flow of drugs across the
membrane is great. The extent of absorption has a greater influence on the rate.

➢ Physical Forms - There are many forms of drugs, it could either be solid, liquid or
gasses. When the drug is solid, it is capsulated or tablet, and it should be orally
administered. When the drug is liquid, there are different routes on administering
liquid drugs. Gas form drugs are administered as inhalant that goes through the
pulmonary route.

➢ Molecular Size - There are different molecular sizes. The absorption varies with the
different molecular sizes. For example, a small molecular size can be easily
 absorbed. When the molecular size is higher than the usual, endocytosis or
facilitated diffusion is done. And when the molecular size is lower than the usual,
aqueous diffusion or lipid channels are used.
➢ Degree of ionization

2. How do the routes of administration affect the onset and duration of drug action?

- The route of administration affects the onset and the duration of drug action
because there is an absorption pattern for every drug. It also affects the drug
bioavailability that determines the onset and the duration of the pharmacological
effect. The routes of drugs should be understood because there are advantages
and disadvantages.

3. What influence would local application of heat or cold have on drug absorption from
subcutaneous site?

- In subcutaneous, applying heat on drugs will improve the flow of the blood, it also
helps in speeding up the absorption and the dispersion. The cooling of drugs, on
the other hand, only reduces the rate of the absorption of the administered drug.

Case Study

A client brought a sick two months old Labrador pup into the clinic for medication. The client
complaints include anorexia, bloody diarrhea and vomiting for two days. Physical examination
showed that the pup is dehydrated, has fever, pale mucus membrane and low RBC and high
WBC counts.

The client feels that the pup is having a serious infection and it would be better to give oral
fluids and antibiotics immediately so that dehydration and infection will be treated quickly.

Is this a good idea? What are your suggestions?

- First thing first, the client should ask the vet for a laboratory test for their pup and
also ask what they should do. They should not directly tell the vet to give the pup
oral fluids. Second, since the pup is showing clinical signs such as vomiting and
diarrhea, it is also understood that administering oral drugs is no use since the
pup will just vomit it. There are different routes for administering drugs. IF the
result for the pup’s lab test. Then proper treatment should be done. Medication
should be administered depending on the drugs, it could be Intravenous,
intramuscular route or more.