Drug administration
Drug administration
Drug administration (/drʌg/ /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/) refers to the method by which a drug is delivered into the body. The term is derived from the Latin words 'druga' meaning 'medicine' and 'administratio' meaning 'management'.
Types of Drug Administration
There are several types of drug administration, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. These include:
- Oral administration: This is the most common method of drug administration. It involves swallowing the drug in the form of a pill, capsule, or liquid.
- Intravenous administration: This method involves injecting the drug directly into a vein. It is often used in hospitals and other medical settings.
- Intramuscular administration: This method involves injecting the drug into a muscle. It is often used for vaccines and other medications that need to be absorbed slowly.
- Subcutaneous administration: This method involves injecting the drug just under the skin. It is often used for insulin and other medications that need to be absorbed slowly.
- Topical administration: This method involves applying the drug directly to the skin or mucous membranes. It is often used for creams, ointments, and eye drops.
- Inhalation administration: This method involves inhaling the drug into the lungs. It is often used for asthma medications and other respiratory treatments.
Factors Influencing Drug Administration
Several factors can influence the effectiveness of drug administration. These include the drug's formulation, the patient's age and overall health, and the presence of other medications or substances in the body.
Related Terms
- Pharmacokinetics: The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.
- Pharmacodynamics: The study of how drugs interact with their targets in the body.
- Bioavailability: The proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.
- Therapeutic window: The range of drug doses which can treat disease effectively while staying within the safety range.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Drug administration
- Wikipedia's article - Drug administration
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