Oral Drug Delivery
It is the easiest, safest, commonest and the most convenient route for internal administration of drugs. Medicines can not be, however, given to unconscious or non-cooperative patients or in patients with persistent vomiting and diarrhea. Drugs like adrenaline, insulin etc. cannot also be given by mouth due to their destruction by the digestive juice. Irritant drugs are not given by this route otherwise vomiting may be induced. Moreover, there is uncertainty and delay of absorption from this route and it should not be relied upon in serious patients. Mixtures, tablets, pills, capsules, linctus, emulsions etc, are given by this route.
Liquid medications are good for children and adults (especially older adults) who are not able to swallow tablets or capsules. Many liquid medications, including both prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, are made for children and are flavored to mask the taste of the medication. Before measuring the proper dose of liquid medication, make sure to shake the bottle as some of the medication may have “settled” at the bottom.
Most often, you will be told to measure the medication using a teaspoon. To a doctor and pharmacist, this means 5 ml (milliliters) of medication. Many household teaspoons are different sizes and hold more or less than 5 ml. Therefore, you might get too much or too little medication on your spoon.
Measure your liquid medication carefully! Ask your pharmacist for a spoon, medicine cup, medicine dropper, or a syringe without a needle meant specifically for measuring medications. Your pharmacist can show you how to properly use these. Many over-the-counter liquid medications come with a small medicine cup attached to the top of the bottle.
If the medication has been prescribed for an infant or young child, make sure to speak with your pediatrician about the proper dosage, or amount, of liquid medication for your child.
Advantages:
The Advantages of oral drug delivery is that it is easy, safe and convenient route to use
Easy, safe, and convenient route,
Disadvantages:
Problems With Oral Delivery
It is the easiest, safest, commonest and the most convenient route for internal administration of drugs. Medicines can not be, however, given to unconscious or non-cooperative patients or in patients with persistent vomiting and diarrhea. Drugs like adrenaline, insulin etc. cannot also be given by mouth due to their destruction by the digestive juice. Irritant drugs are not given by this route otherwise vomiting may be induced. Moreover, there is uncertainty and delay of absorption from this route and it should not be relied upon in serious patients. Mixtures, tablets, pills, capsules, linctus, emulsions etc, are given by this route.
Liquid medications are good for children and adults (especially older adults) who are not able to swallow tablets or capsules. Many liquid medications, including both prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, are made for children and are flavored to mask the taste of the medication. Before measuring the proper dose of liquid medication, make sure to shake the bottle as some of the medication may have “settled” at the bottom.
Most often, you will be told to measure the medication using a teaspoon. To a doctor and pharmacist, this means 5 ml (milliliters) of medication. Many household teaspoons are different sizes and hold more or less than 5 ml. Therefore, you might get too much or too little medication on your spoon.
Measure your liquid medication carefully! Ask your pharmacist for a spoon, medicine cup, medicine dropper, or a syringe without a needle meant specifically for measuring medications. Your pharmacist can show you how to properly use these. Many over-the-counter liquid medications come with a small medicine cup attached to the top of the bottle.
If the medication has been prescribed for an infant or young child, make sure to speak with your pediatrician about the proper dosage, or amount, of liquid medication for your child.
Advantages:
The Advantages of oral drug delivery is that it is easy, safe and convenient route to use
Easy, safe, and convenient route,
Disadvantages:
- Delayed on set- action
- Some drugs are destroyed by gastro- intestinal enzymes ex. insulin, penicillin etc.
- Absorption may not be always be the result
- Cannot be administered to an unconscious patient
- Cannot be given to patients having gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhea and vomiting
Problems With Oral Delivery
- The acidic pH of the stomach can often destroy the The acidic pH of the stomach can often destroy the drug, well before it is absorbed drug, well before it is absorbed
- Often the liver cleans out a large portion of the drug.
- First pass metabolism
- Oral delivery not effective for ionic water soluble