There are 6 routes of medication administration and the chosen route is dependent on varying factors, including the illness, illness severity, the needs of the patients and their condition. The 6 most common routes of medication administration are as follows:
Oral - swallowed through the mouth by either a tablet, liquid, capsule, lozenge or chewable tablet.
Rectal - could be the next option if they are unable to swallow the medication.
Inhalation - inhaled through the airway in either the form of powder, mist or spray.
Nebulization - this is a machine that allows the patient to inhale the drug as a very fine mist.
Transdermal - a patch is placed on the skin with the medicine that penetrates into the bloodstream.
Injection - where medicine is injected into either the spine, under the skin, into a vein or into a muscle.