Drug Administration Flashcards
(29 cards)
What are the routes of administration?
Oral Subcutaneous Intramuscular Intravenous Topical
How can drugs be given orally?
Solids - tablets, capsules, granules
Liquids - solution, suspension, emulsion, linctus
Sublingual
What is a tablet
Powederes drugs compressed into discs, oral med
What is a capsule?
drug contained within a gelatine container, oral med
What are granules?
Usually mixed with feed, oral med
Advantages of oral medication?
Method of choice
Can be treated in familiar surrondings
Easy to administer, can be done by clients at home
What is a solution?
Oral med, drug dissolved in a solvent
What is a suspension?
Oral med, insouluble drug in a liquid base
What is an emulsion?
Oral med, mixture of 2 immiscible liquids
What is a linctus?
Oral med, drug within a concentrated sugar solution
What is a sublingual medication?
Explain reasons for use
Oral med, given under the tongue
Used little in vet medicine
Good for use in anaesthesia pateinets as it avoids first pass metabolism in the liver so less of the drug is required
What can be given via rectal route?
enema
What are disadvantages of oral administration?
Aspiration of medication Gastro-instestinal irritation Person administering could be bitten Poor patient compliance due to bitter taste Not suitable for vomiting patient Slow absorption
What does parental administration refer to?
A route other than the mouth usually injection
What must any drug given paretnally be?
Sterile and applied to a clean area
Needles must also be sterile and sharp and only used once to avoid cross contamination
An appropriate sized needle should be used
What is a subcutaneous injection and what is it used for?
A drug given into connective tissue below the skin
Usually at the back of the neck
Used for non-irritant water soluble substances
Drug absorption slower than that of other injection methods
What is a intramuscular injection and what is it used for?
DRug injected directly into a muscle body
Often into hind legs or back muscle
Can be painful but absorbed more rapidly than by s/c injection
Oily solutions, aqueous suspensions and irritating drugs should be administered by I/m injection
Drug dissolves in tissue fluid surrounding muscle cells and is then absorbed into the blood capillaries supplying the muscle
What is a intravenous injection and what is it used for?
drug is injected into a surface vein - often cephalic
Drug administered directly into blood stream
Very rapid action
Need less drug as 100% bioavailability
Skill required
What are the injection methods?
Subcutaneous Intramuscular Intravenous Intraarticular Intradermal Intra-osseus Epidural
What are the benefits of injections?
beneficial to patients unable to take meds orally
Drug is broken down in the stomach and intestines
Drug absorbed rapidly
Accurate dosing
There is however a risk of infection and a level of skill is required
What types of drugs can be administered topically?
Creams, ointments, dusting powders, lotions, medicated shampoo, aerosol spray, eye medication
What is a cream?
Semi solid emulsion of oil or fat and water.
Spread easily without friction and penetrates outer layers
What is an ointment?
Semi solid, greasy and insoluble in water. Often have petroleum jelly base
Non-penetrating, more occlusive most suitable for dry chronic lesions
What is a dusting powder?
Finely divided powders for application to the skin. Usually contain ectoparasites or antibacterial
