01. Introduction to Pharmacology, and Routes of Drug Administration and Absorption

Sheila A Doggrell

Discipline of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point, GPO Box 2434, QLD 4001, Australia

Phone +61 7 38705741 Fax +61 7 31381534 Email sheila.doggrell@qut.edu.au

Reviewed by Elizabeth Davis, Monash University

Key words: pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug nomenclature, routes of drug administration, oral administration, absorption, first pass liver metabolism, sublingual, rectal, intravenous, intra-arterial, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intrathecal, epidural, topical administration, skin, nasal mucosa, eye, vagina, inhalation, and intraosseus

Contents

1. Introduction to Pharmacology and Routes of Drug Administration and Absorption of Drugs

1.1 Introduction to Pharmacology

1.2 Drug Nomenclature

1.3 Introduction to drug administration and absorption of drugs

1.4 Routes of drug administration

1.5 Oral administration, absorption from gastrointestinal tract, and first pass liver metabolism

1.6 Sublingual

1.7 Rectal

1.8 Injection

1.8.1 Intravenous

1.8.2 Intra-arterial

1.8.3 Subcutaneous

1.8.4 Intramuscular

1.8.5 Intrathecal

1.8.6 Epidural

1.9 Topical

1.9.1 Skin

1.9.2 Nasal mucosa

1.9.3 Eye

1.9.4 Vaginal

1.10 Pulmonary – Inhalation

1.11 Intraosseus

Summary This eChapter has an introduction to pharmacology and drug nomenclature followed by a detailed discussion of routes of administration starting with oral administration (with absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, and first pass liver metabolism). This is followed by a discussion of rectal, sublingual and injection routes of administration (intravenous, intra-arterial, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intrathecal and epidural). Then the topical, pulmonary and intraosseus routes of administration are considered.