Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

oute of administration The method by which a
person takes or receives a DRUG. The common
routes administration are oral (by MOUTH), sublingual
(beneath the tongue), injection, topical,
transdermal, and rectal. Women may use some
drugs intravaginally. Some drugs are available
only in certain forms, such as injectable. Many
drugs are available in numerous forms. Factors
that influence the selected route of administration
include the drug’s formulation and the person’s
ability to take or receive a particular form of the
drug. For example, a young child or person who
has difficulty swallowing or is experiencing NAUSEA
and VOMITING may better handle a drug adminisroute
of administration 169
See also ALCOHOL INTERACTIONS WITH MEDICATIONS;
BIOAVAILABILITY; BIOEQUIVALENCE; CYTOCHROME
(CYP450) ENZYMES; PHARMACODYNAMICS.
P450
pharmacopeia A professional and regulatory
compendium of information about drugs, including
their formulations, dosages, and therapeutic
uses, that establishes manufacturing, safety, EFFI-
CACY, and prescribing standards. The US Pharmacopeia
(USP) is a formal and official document as
well as a process for maintaining quality standards
across the spectrum of pharmaceutical manufacturers,
pharmacies, and health-care organizations
(such as practices, clinics, care facilities, and hospitals)
after a drug receives approval from the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drugs and
products such as dietary supplements that bear the
indication “USP-verified” or include “USP” with
the product name meet USP standards. Other
countries have similar pharmacopeia (commonly
spelled “pharmacopoeia” outside the United
States) structures.
See also FORMULARY; ORANGE BOOK, THE.
placebo An inert substance that has no biological,
chemical, or other action within the body,
taken with the intent of producing a therapeutic
effect. The placebo effect refers to the sense of
improvement of symptoms an individual may
experience when taking or using a product that
has no active ingredients. Researchers often use
placebo products when testing new drugs, particularly
medications such as PAIN relievers (ANALGESIC
MEDICATIONS), in which the assessment of effectiveness
has a subjective component.
See also INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG (IND); MIND-
BODY CONNECTION.
ROUTE OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Route Forms Entry Mechanism
injection intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), IV: into a VEIN, direct entry to the BLOOD circulation
subcutaneous (SC)
IM: into a MUSCLE; rapid absorption into the blood
circulation
SC: into the fatty tissue beneath the skin; slow
absorption into the blood circulation
oral (per os or PO) tablet, capsule, liquid digestion breaks down the product, with absorption
usually in the SMALL INTESTINE
rectal suppository Soft carrier wax melts, drug becomes absorbed into the
blood circulation through the wall of the RECTUM
sublingual (SL) tablet, liquid dissolves under the tongue, becoming absorbed into the
blood circulation through the mucosa of the MOUTH
topical cream, ointment, gel, lotion, spray intended to remain within the layers of the SKIN
transdermal patch, cream, ointment intended to be absorbed through the skin into the blood
circulation