Routes of Medication Administration

Routes of Medication Administration

There are 5 major routes of medication administration that includes:

Oral route:

·           Oral

·           Enteral (through enteral tube)

·           Buccal (placing between cheek and gum)

·           Sublingual (placing under tongue)

Parenteral route:

·           Intradermal (under epidermis)

·           Subcutaneous (under dermis)

·           Intramuscular

·           Intravenous

·           Intra arterial

·           Intra cardiac

·           Intra osseous (bone)

Topical route:

·           Vaginal administration

·           Rectal administration

·           Inunction (rubbing drug into skin)

·           Instillation (placing drug into direct contact with mucous membrane)

·           Irrigation  (flushing  mucous membrane with drug in solution)

·           Skin application (Applying transdermal patch)

Inhalation or Pulmonary Route:

·           Through nasal, oral, endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes

Intraoccular Route:

·           Eye medication disk (inserting similar to contact lens)