What are the advantages of enteral route of drug administration?

Oral (PO) administration is the most frequently used route of administration because of its simplicity and convenience, which improve patient compliance. Bioavailability of drugs administered orally varies greatly.

What is an enteral medication?

Enteral administration involves absorption of the drug via the GI tract and includes oral, gastric or duodenal (e.g., feeding tube), and rectal administration. From: Applied Pharmacology, 2011.

What is the difference between parenteral and Enteral Nutrition?

“The goal of enteral nutrition is to use the gastrointestinal [GI] tract if and whenever possible. Parenteral nutrition therapy uses intravenous feedings when the GI tract is not usable—for example, short term after GI surgery such as a bowel resection with prolonged recovery or complications.”

What does enteral use only mean?

Enteral feeding refers to intake of food via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is composed of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Enteral feeding may mean nutrition taken through the mouth or through a tube that goes directly to the stomach or small intestine.

Why is enteral preferred over parenteral?

Enteral nutrition or feeding through the gastrointestinal tract (GI) is the preferred route of nutrient delivery. The benefits of enteral nutrition over parenteral nutrition are many. Enteral nutrition is associated with fewer septic and metabolic complications compared to parenteral nutrition.

What are the enteral routes of administration?

Enteral administration involves the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines (i.e., the gastrointestinal tract). Methods of administration include oral, sublingual (dissolving the drug under the tongue), and rectal. Parenteral administration is via a peripheral or central vein.

What is a parenteral route of Drug Administration?

Parenteral refers to routes of administration outside of or beside of the alimentary tract. The parenteral route includes intravascular (IV), Intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) routes of administration. The parenteral routes are used for drugs that are poorly absorbed or that are unstable in the GI tract.

Is parenteral the administration of a medication by injection?

An injection is considered a form of administering drugs via the parenteral route, which refers to routes of administration which do not involve absorption in the digestive tract. This allows the medication to be absorbed more rapidly and avoid the first pass effect .

What is an advantage of a parenteral drug?

Advantages of parenteral drug administration: For emergency: When the drug has to start acting immediately in case of emergecy this is best. For unconscious patient: When patient is unconscious, he cannot swallow the medicine, then injection is best. Avoid first pass metabolism: When a drug is taken by mouth, it has o pass the liver.

What are three types of parenteral medications?

However, in the medical field, all types of shots, or injectable or parenteral administration methods, are important. The three most common types of parenteral drugs are intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenous .