Drug Administration

The route of drug administration influences the action of that drug on the body. To obtain a systemic effect, a drug must be absorbed and transported to the cells or tissues that respond to them. How a drug is administered depends on the chemical nature and quantity of the drug, as well as on the desired speed of effect and the overall condition of the client.

Individual drugs are designed to be administered by specific routebe sure to check drug labels for the appropriate route of administration. Common routes of administration to obtain systemic effects include the following: oral, sublingual, rectal, trans dermal, and parentral. Parentral ingections are commonly administered in these sites: intradermal, subcutaneous, IM and IV.