Enteral routes of drug administration

Depending on the pathology, the ways of medication administration are chosen so that they can act on the organism as soon as possible and more efficiently. Knowing about the advantages and disadvantages of various methods of administering drugs, for each patient you can choose the most optimal option.

Often, medicines are administered and used enterally. "What is it like?" - you ask. In another way, one can say: through the digestive tract. This method is divided into the following introductions.

Buccal (on the cheek)

The therapeutic effect of drugs with cheek introduction is developing rapidly, and at the same time, the time of absorption increases due to the use of special forms of drugs: disks, patches, which are glued to the inner surface of the cheek. However, frequent use of this method leads to irritation of the mucous membranes.

Sublingually - what does this mean?

A rapid absorption of drugs in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity is carried out when they are taken under the tongue. Advantages of this method: the active substance gets directly into the blood, bypassing the corrosive effect of digestive juice and liver enzymes; Rapid vasodilator effect in hypertensive crises; Relief of angina attacks. Disadvantages: if a part of the medicine is swallowed, the therapeutic effect decreases; Dosage form (dragees, tablets, granules) should be kept under the tongue until completely dissolved; The development of side effects - irritation of the oral mucosa. So, sublingually - what does this mean? And this means taking the drug under the tongue.

Vaginal (in the vagina) and urethral (in the urethra)

These routes of administration are used mainly for the treatment of infectious diseases of female and male genital organs. Vaginally administered dosage forms: suspensions, creams, tablets, emulsions, ointments, suppositories. These methods have found their application and for diagnostic purposes for the introduction of contrast media.

Oral (through the mouth)

This is the most common enteral route of administration of medicines. Through the mouth take many medicinal forms of drugs. The active substances contained in medicines from the gastrointestinal tract enter the bloodstream. Therapeutic concentration is achieved in the blood on average 10-15 minutes after taking the medication. Interaction with digestive juice, enzymes, food fragments is carried out when taking medicines enterally. This is like taking medications immediately after eating, and during meals.

Thus, drugs are attacked by various chemicals in an acidic environment. The most favorable time for taking medications is the period of 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 in the maximum volume. There are dosage forms covered with a special composition, thanks to which the drug is unchanged through the stomach and dissolves only in the small intestine, which has a weak alkaline environment.

Rectal (rectum)

A special place among the enteral ways of drug administration is given to this method. With the rectal route of administration, rapid absorption is achieved 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 enzymes of the liver and digestive juice. Compared with oral administration, the therapeutic effect is three times higher.

The advantage of the enteral route through the rectum is the only way to help the patient in cases of his inability to swallow or unconsciousness, with vomiting, lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. And also to advantages of this method of introduction it is possible to carry:

• Absence of allergic reactions and side effects, or they are minimal;
• Proven efficacy of rectal agents for the treatment of children, elderly people, pregnant women (during toxemia);
• A wide range of proposed dosage forms for the treatment of various pathological conditions.

The disadvantages of this enteral route of administration are:

• When rectal administration occurs only local effects;
• The mucous membrane of the rectum is irritated;
• Inconvenient to apply;
• Psychologically, not every patient can use this route of administration.

Enteral route of administration: advantages and disadvantages

Drugs introduced by this method have on the body both local and systemic action.

Advantages of this method of drug administration:

• Convenience and ease of reception for all ages;
• The most common method;
• Patients do not need the help of health professionals;
• Excludes complications typical for parenteral use of medicines;

Disadvantages of the enteral route of administration:

• The active substances in the gastrointestinal tract are retarded, as a result, the absorption in the blood slows down;
• Medicines are strongly affected by acidic conditions;
• In the liver is the decontamination of drugs;
• The absorption of drugs affects the state of the gastrointestinal tract and mucous membranes;
• The pharmacological effect of drugs is affected by the age of the patient, the presence of diseases.

Another way of administering drugs is the parenteral route.

The introduction of drugs by this method is carried out bypassing the digestive tract and is divided into the following introductions.

Intravenous

Advantages of this method:

• Fast effect.
• It is possible to accurately calculate the necessary concentration of the drug for a particular patient, which is especially important for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.
• Drugs are introduced that irritate mucous membranes, rapidly decompose or enter into chemical reactions with digestive juice.

Intraarterial

It is used for perfusion of some organs with active active substances contained in medicinal preparations. Thrombosis of the vein is the most serious side effect of the parenteral route of administration of the drug.

Intramuscular

The therapeutic concentration of the drug in the body reaches a peak within 20 minutes, depending on the pharmacological group of the drug administered. The volume of the drug, admissible for administration by this method, should not be more than 10 ml. Disadvantages: unpleasant and painful sensations during and after the administration of the drug; Possibly development of an abscess, ingress of a needle into the blood vessel, damage to nerve fibers.

Subcutaneous

Not all medicines are suitable for this type of administration.

The therapeutic effect is slower than with intravenous or intramuscular injection, but also lasts longer.

Inhalation

In this form of administration, the preparation in the form of an aerosol, powder or gas is absorbed fairly quickly. He has a local, and sometimes a general action.

Intrathecal

In this form of administration, the drug is injected directly into the subarachnoid space and is used in the following cases:

• Anesthesia: spinal or spinal;
• Creating a high concentration of antibacterial or hormonal drugs.

When applied locally, the drug is applied to the mucous membranes (nose, eyes, skin) or the surface of the skin to create both a localized and systemic effect.

Disadvantages: with prolonged use, especially hormonal drugs, side reactions often develop in the form of irritation.

With the help of a physiotherapy electrophoresis procedure, drugs from the surface under the action of current are transferred to the deeper layers of the skin, providing the necessary pharmacological action.

Special mixtures

Enteral mixtures are prescribed and used for the treatment of various diseases:

• Diabetes mellitus;
• Renal, hepatic, respiratory failure;
• Dysbiosis and other diseases of the digestive system.

Nutrient mixtures due to the presence of prebiotics have a beneficial effect on the human body:

• Normalize the work of the stomach and colon;
• Improve intestinal motility and the process of absorption of active substances;
• Promote the regeneration of epithelial tissue of the large intestine;
• Reduce the rate of absorption of glucose;
• Influence the reduction of cholesterol.

A properly selected method of administering a drug for a particular patient, taking into account the development of side effects, the minimum period of onset of the pharmacological action of the drug, and the consideration of its condition is one of the tasks facing the medical worker.