Parenteral Dosage Forms

Parenteral dosage forms

Bypass the gastric system, typically administered by injection or infusion.

Injectable medications forms

Available in a solution or powder form.

Powder injectable requirement

Must be mixed in a sterile diluent to make a solution before administration.

Injectable medication containers

Available in either single dose or multidose containers.

Sterile conditions handling

Required for injectable medications to avoid contamination.

Contaminated injectable side effects

Can cause serious side effects of bacterial or viral infections.

Parenteral advantages

-It has a faster effect.

-It can be used in unconscious or severely ill patients.

-It can be used in children and elderly patients who are unable to swallow.

-Preferred method when the gastrointestinal system is nonfunctional due to illness or surgery.

Parenteral disadvantages

-Once administered, it’s difficult to reverse.

-It’s generally more costly.

-It’s inconvenient in most cases.

-It’s painful in some cases.

-The drugs are generally less stable.

-Requires highly trained individuals to prepare and administer the medications.

Intraocular administration

The drug is injected into the eye.

Intraocular common example

Acetylcholine (Miochol) available in 10 mg/mL.

Intrathecal administration

The drug is injected into the space surrounding the spinal cord.

Intrathecal common example

Morphine available in varying strengths.

Intravenous (IV) definition

The drug is injected directly into the vein allowing immediate absorption.

IV push

A one-time, rapid injection.

IV piggyback

A secondary IV medication injected alongside a primary medication.

IV infusion or drip

A bag and pump are used to control the administration rate.

Intravenous common example

Ondansetron (Zofran) available in 2 mg/mL.

Subcutaneous (SC) definition

The drug is injected into the fatty tissue under the skin.

Subcutaneous absorption

Takes longer to absorb through the fatty tissue to reach blood circulation.

Subcutaneous common example

Insulin lispro (Humalog) available in 100 units/mL.

Intramuscular (IM) definition

The drug is injected into the muscle tissue.

Intramuscular characteristics

Painful method with a lag time before the drug reaches blood circulation due to erratic absorption.

Intramuscular common example

Dexamethasone (Decadron) available in 4 mg/mL.

Intradermal (ID) definition

The drug is injected into the skin.

Intradermal common example

Tuberculosis skin test (PPD).

Epidural definition

The drug is injected into the dura mater or epidural space of the spinal cord.

Epidural common use

Common route of injecting anesthesia medications during childbirth.

Epidural common example

Bupivacaine (Marcaine) available in 0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%.

Intra-arterial definition

A rare form of parenteral injection administered via an artery.

Intra-arterial common example

Chemotherapy.

Gastric system function

Parenteral routes completely bypass the gastric system.

Absorption speed advantage

Parenteral drug administration provides a faster effect.