Sage-Tips

Which drug Cannot be administered orally?

Commonly used drugs that undergo extensive first pass metabolism are cimetidine, lidocaine, propranolol, nitroglycerin, diazepam, midazolam, morphine, pethidine, imipramine, and buprenorphine. Some drugs like insulin are destroyed by the gastric secretions and therefore cannot be given orally.

Why do some medicines have to be injected?

They can withstand the physical pressures of a pill bottle or your pocket, protecting the drug. They’re kind of like the transport truck of dosage forms. An injectable medication, on the other hand, conveys the drug in a liquid form along with inactive ingredients.

What are the disadvantages of oral route of drug administration?

Disadvantages of the Oral Route

• Drug absorption may vary.
• Subject to first-pass metabolism.
• Oral route not possible in unconscious patients.
• Unsuitable in patients who are vomiting.
• Slow onset of action.
• The drug may be destroyed by digestive enzymes and/or stomach acid.

Why is medication administered orally?

Many medications are taken orally because they are intended to have a systemic effect, reaching different parts of the body via the bloodstream, for example.

Why is insulin not taken orally?

Insulin cannot be taken by mouth because it is digestible. Oral insulin would be obliterated in the stomach, long before it reached the bloodstream where it is needed. Once injected, it starts to work and is used up in a matter of hours.

Can IV meds be given orally?

Certain drugs may be given by IV administration because if you took them orally (by mouth), enzymes in your stomach or liver would break them down. This would prevent the drugs from working well when they’re finally sent to your bloodstream.

Can injectable drugs be taken orally?

To give the injectable medicine by mouth you can dilute it in the syringe or mix it with the drink. Draw some of the drink from the medicine cup into the syringe with the medicine and give it to your child.

What medications are injected?

The most commonly injected drug is heroin, but amphetamines, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cocaine, and methamphetamine also are injected. Any water-soluble drug may be injected.

Why is oral route preferred?

The oral route is the most common route for drug administration. It is the most preferred route, due to its advantages, such as non-invasiveness, patient compliance and convenience of drug administration.

What will happen to drugs that are administered via oral route?

For drugs administered orally, absorption may begin in the mouth and stomach. However, most drugs are usually absorbed from the small intestine. The drug passes through the intestinal wall and travels to the liver before being transported via the bloodstream to its target site.

What are the disadvantages and advantages of oral route?

Advantages of oral route of drug administration

• It is the simplest, most convenient, and safest means of drug administration.
• It is convenient for repeated and prolonged use.
• It can be self-administered and pain-free.
• It is economical since it does not involve the patient in extra cost.
• No sterile precautions needed.

Why are oral medications so difficult to administer?

Although solid-dose forms such as tablets and capsules have a high degree of drug stability and provide accurate dosage, the oral route is problematic because of the unpredictable nature of gastrointestinal absorption.

What are the contraindications for medication administration?

Each medication administration route has unique contraindications, and the healthcare team members need to recognize them. An oral medication route is contraindicated for patients who cannot tolerate oral drugs, such as those who have altered mental status or have nausea or vomiting that hinder them from safely ingesting the drug orally.

How are oral medications different from other routes of delivery?

Dosages and delivery methods/mediums of oral medications can be drastically different from that of other routes. Medications are formulated differently and suspended in different mediums based on their intended mode of administration.

What does it mean when a medication is not working?

If you believe that the medication is showing no apparent effect (that it is not working) because the individual’s symptoms have not improved or gone away, the health care provider should be notified. Sometimes medications work in an opposite way. This is called a paradoxical effect.