Your Views Information Exchange TROA Calendar Sounding Taps TROA Home Magazine Staff Copyright Notice . Medication can be administered by a variety of routes. Methods vary by where a drug is absorbed, the rate of its absorption into the body, the consistency of the drug level, and the ease and cost of administration.
Pills are the traditional means of administering a drug.
Some, such as nitroglycerin for chest pain, are placed under the tongue for immediate contact with blood vessels that speed absorption. Pills that are chewed begin the digestion and absorption process in the mouth or stomach. Sometimes a drug is given orally at specific intervals to vary concentrations of the drug and balance desired effects with side effects. Injection is used when a medication would be inactive if digested, if a carefully controlled dose is needed, or if an immediate response is critical. Many vaccines are one-time injections into a muscle.