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- dosage calculations
- routes of administration
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Routes of Administration
Drugs can be given orally, intravenously, transdermally, intramuscularly.
Oral
- convenient
- subject to first-pass effect
- not suitable for easily metabolized, acid labile, or GI irritants
Mucosal
- rapid and usually local, but can be systemic
- bypasses first-pass effect
- suitable for acid-labile drugs
- not as convenient
Parenteral
- rapid
- 100% bioavailability; no first-pass effect
- costs and risks involved
Inhalation
- systemic delivery of potent drugs
- local for respiratory
- many drugs can be irritating to lungs
Percutaneous (transdermal)
- systemic or local
- can achieve long-term delivery of controlled dose
- slow absorption and onset
Depots can be useful for compliance, ie for antipsychotics
- half-life doesn't change; rather, absorption half life is increased
- leeches out very slowly from ie seseame oil
- switching from oral dose to depot -