Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Routes of Drug Administration
Routes of Drug Administration
subcutaneous injection
in the mouse
This method is particularly useful when
continuous presence of the drug in the tissues
is needed over a long period. The usefulness
of this method is enhanced by the use of
depot preparations from which the drug is
released more slowly than it is from simple
solution e.g. long-acting insulins. Another
form of the depot preparation is
subcutaneous implant.
In this case, a sterile pellet is implanted into
subcutaneous tissue instead of injecting drug
solution e.g. hormones are administered in
this way. If a vasoconstrictor agent is
incorporated in a drug solution, it retards the
absorption e.g. adrenaline is combined with
local anesthetics to prolong the local
anesthesia.
b) Intramuscular:-
Injection is made deep into the muscle
tissue.
In humans, the best site is deltoid muscle in
the shoulder or the gluteus muscle in the
buttocks. This method is suitable for the
irritating substances that cannot be given by
subcutaneous route. The speed of
absorption from site of injection is
dependent on the vehicle used, absorption is
quick from aqueous solutions and slow from
oily preparations. Absorption is complete,
predictable and faster than subcutaneous
route.
Intramuscular injection in deltoid and gluteal
muscles
Intravenous:-
Drug solution in injected directly into the
lumen of a vein so that it is diluted in the
venous blood. The drug is carried to the
Heart and circulated to the tissues. Drugs in
oily vehicle or those that cause haemolysis
should not be given by this route. Since the
drug is introduced directly into blood, the
desired concentration of the drug is
achieved immediately which is not possible
by any other procedure.
Intravenous Administration
This route is of prime importance in emergency. Also
certain irritant drugs could be given by this route. Also
this is the only route for giving large volume of drugs
e.g. blood transfusion.
However, there are certain disadvantages of this
procedure.
1. Once the drug is injected nothing can be done to
prevent its action.
2. I/v injection requires technical skill to minimize the
risk of leakage of irritant solution into the surrounding
tissues.
3. Air embolism may cause serious problems.
Intraperitoneal:-
The peritoneum offers a large absorbing
surface area from which drugs enter
circulation rapidly but primarily by way of
portal vein. Hence First-Pass effect not
avoided.
This is probably the most widely used route
of drug administration in laboratory animals.
In human, it is very rarely employed due to
the dangers of infection and injury to viscera
and blood vessels.
Inraperitoneal Injection
e) Intradermal:-
Drug are injected into papillary layer of skin.
For example tuberculin injection for
montoux test and BCG vaccination for active
immunization against tuberculosis.
BCG: Bacille Calmette-Guerin
Intradermal Injection
f) Intra Medullary:-
The needle is introduced into marrow cavity and
effects are similar to those following intravenous
injection. This route is used when veins are not
available specially in children. In adults the
injection is made into marrow cavity of sternum
and under 3 years of age into that of tibia or femur.
g) Intrathecal:-
Blood brain barrier often prevents the entry of
certain drugs into the central nervous system.
Also the blood CSF barrier prevents the approach of drugs
to the meninges. Thus when local and rapid effects of
drugs on meninges are desired the drugs are injected into
Subarachnoid (between arachnoid mater and pia
mater)space and effects of the drugs are then localized to
the spinal nerves and meninges e.g. intrathecal injection of
streptomycin in tuberculosis and meningitis used to be
used by this route but with the invention of third
generation cephalosporins it is not used any more to treat
these conditions. The injection of local anaesthetics for the
induction of spinal anaesthesia is given by this route.
(the three membranes covering the brain and
spinal cord from outside to inward are dura
mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater)
h) Intra articular:-
It is also known as intra synovial. Sometimes
drugs are injected into the joint cavity to
localize their action at the site of administration
e.g. Hydrocortisone acetate in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis. Local anesthetic is added
to minimize pain of injection. Strict aspesis
must be maintained to avoid joint-infection.
i) Intra Cardiac:-
In cardiac arrest intracardiac injection of
adrenaline is made for resuscitation.
j) Intra-arterial:-
Sometimes a drug is injected directly into an
artery to localize its effects in a particular
tissue or organ. However, the therapeutic
value of such practice is doubtful.
Infact in human the use of this technique is
restricted to the injection of radio-opaque
media for diagnostic purposes. A competent
person is required to inject the drug intra
arterially. However, there is no fear of first-
pass effect when the drug is given by this
route.
3- INHALATION