Oral administration
Oral administration is a route of administration whereby a substance is taken through the mouth, swallowed, and then processed via the digestive system. This is a common route of administration for many medications.
Oral administration can be easier and less painful than other routes of administration, such as injection. However, the onset of action is relatively low, and the effectiveness is reduced if it is not absorbed properly in the digestive system, or if it is broken down by digestive enzymes before it can reach the bloodstream. Some medications may cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, when taken orally. Oral administration can also only be applied to conscious patients, and patients able to swallow.
Terminology
Per os is an adverbial phrase meaning literally from Latin "through the mouth" or "by mouth". The expression is used in medicine to describe a treatment that is taken orally. The abbreviation P.O. is often used on medical prescriptions.Scope
Enteral administration includes:- Buccal, dissolved inside the cheek
- Sublabial, dissolved under the lip
- Sublingual administration, dissolved under the tongue, but due to rapid absorption many consider SL a parenteral route
- Oral, swallowed tablet, capsule or liquid
- Tablets to swallow, chew or dissolve in water or under the tongue
- Capsules and chewable capsules
- Time-release or sustained-release tablets and capsules
- Powders or granules and oral liquid dosage forms:
- Teas
- Drops
- Liquid medications or syrups
Facilitating methods