Routes of Administration

Key - ROUTES of DRUG ADMINISTRATIONROUTEAPPROXIMATEONSET OFACTIONINDICATIONSEXAMPLESoral (PO, p.o.)30 - 60 minuteswhenever possible, safest andmost convenient routemost medications,e.g. analgesics,sedatives,hypnotics,antibioticssublingual (s.l.) several minutes when rapid effect is desiredNTG (nitroglycerin)in angina pectorisbuccal (bucc.)several minutesconvenient dosage form forcertain drugs; may be used inunconscious patientsandrogenic drugsrectal (p.r.)15 - 30 minuteswhen patients are unable totake oral medications andparenteral route is not indicated,also for local effectanalgesics,antiemetics,laxativestransdermal30 - 60 minutesconvenient dosage form, providescontinuous absorption andsystemic effects over extendedtime (hours, days, etc.)nitroglycerin,estrogen,morphinesubcutaneous(sq, s.c., subq.,subcu)several minutesfor drugs that are inactivated ingastrointestinal tractinsulinintramuscular(i.m., IM)several minutesfor drugs with poor oralabsorption,when high blood levels arerequired,when rapid effect is desirednarcotic analgesicsantibioticsintravenous(i.v., IV)within 1 minutein emergency situations, whenimmediateeffect is desired, when largevolumesneed to be administered, e.g.infusionIV fluidsnutrientsupplementationantibioticsresuscitative drugsintraarterial (i.a.) within 1 minute for local effects within specific cancer drugsCopyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.