Medication Forms & Medication Routes

Start

Medication Forms

Solid Medications

01

Lozenges

02

Tablets

03

Capsules

Click on each hovering word for more information!

Liquid Medications

Syrups

Elixirs

Suspensions

Click or hover on each icon for more information!

Emulsions

Solutions

Topical Medications

1. Creams

3. Transdermal Patches

2. Lotions

Hover on each circle for more information!

Routes of Med Administration

Oral Medications

Buccal meds

PO Meds

SL Meds

Click on each picture for more information!

Rectal Medications

• Used when pt. is NPO, has vomiting, or nausea.
• Can also be used when medeication has a bad taste or odor.
• Medication is released at a steady, slow, rate
• Avoids first pass!!

Watch

Parenteral Medications

Click on each icon for more information!

Topical Medications

Click on each icon for additional information!

Keep it up!

Watch the above video for more information on SL medications!

Inhalation

• Administered into the respiratory tract
• Nebulizers
• Positive pressure breathing apparatus

Play

Watch the above video that demonstrates rectal administration of a medication

Parenteral Meds

Any medication that is outside the GI tract!

• SQ = subcutaneous
• IM = intramuscular
• ID = intradermal
• IV = intravenous
• Itraarterial = directly injected into an artery
• Intracardiac = directly injected into the heart
• Intraosseous = directly injected into bone
• Intrathecal/instraspinal = directly injected into the spine (or membrane around spine)

Listen

Solid Meds - Tablets

• Dried, powdered form of medications compressed into round discs
• Sometimes groved OR scored
• Enteric coated
• Coated to dissolve in the alkaline pH of the intestines
• **NEVER CRUSH OR CHEW!!**

Instillations and Irrigations

• Applied to body cavities or orifices
• Irrigation = washing out a body cavity with a stream of NS or other fluid

Play

Watch the above video for more information regarding PO medications!

Dermatological Meds

• Medications applied directly to the skin
• Can be used for multiple reasons:
• decrease itching
• lubricate skin
• soften skin
• protect the skin
• treat or prevent infection (antibiotic or antiseptic creams)

Parenteral Medications

Advantages:

• Absorbed quicker than oral meds (bypasses the first pass effect)
• Gastric disturbances don't affect the medication
• Almost completely absorbed
• Client can be unconsious when delivering medication

Watch the above video for Buccal administration information!

Emulsions

• Small droplets of water in oil or oil in water
• Example = vinegar & water
• Egg is used as an emulsifier, to make the solution stable.

Parenteral Medications

Disadvantages:

• Irretrievable once injected
• Requires dexterity to administer
• Requires aspetic technique
• Causes pain, possible nerve damage

Solid Meds - Capsules

• Cylinder shaped
• Filled with powder, liquid, or oil
• Great way to give meds w/ unpleasant odor or taste
• Timed release capsules (spansules) = DON'T OPEN, CRUSH, OR CHEW!!
• Why??

Solid Meds - Lozenge

• Flat disc
• Held in mouth to dissolve slowly
• Flavored base
• Also called a TROCHE