Fundamentals of Nursing Q 508

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Which route of administration is preferable for administration of daily analgesics (if all body systems are functional)?

  

     A. IV

     B. IM or subcutaneous

     C. Oral

     D. Transdermal

     E. PCA

    

Correct Answer: C. Oral

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If the gastrointestinal system is functioning, the oral route is preferred for routine analgesics because of lower cost and ease of administration. Oral route is also less painful and less invasive than the IV, IM, subcutaneous, or PCA routes. Although a few drugs taken orally are intended to be dissolved in the mouth, nearly all drugs taken orally are swallowed. Of these, most are taken for the systemic drug effects that result after absorption from the various surfaces along the gastrointestinal tract.

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Option A: IV therapy allows a higher concentration of nutrients or medication into the body — and that means the body gets what it needs faster and more effectively without further damage to the GI system.

Option B: Rapid and uniform absorption of the drug especially those of the aqueous solutions. Rapid onset of the action compared to that of the oral and the subcutaneous routes. IM injection bypasses the first-pass metabolism. It also avoids the gastric factors governing drug absorption.

Option D: Transdermal route is slower and medication availability is limited compared to oral forms. Transdermal delivery systems provide continuous administration of drugs through the skin, which maintains constant plasma drug levels and avoids the peaks and troughs that are seen with oral administration.

Option E: Patient-controlled analgesia is used to treat acute, chronic, postoperative, and labor pain. A variety of medications can be used for patient-controlled analgesia and are administered intravenously (IV), through an epidural or peripheral nerve catheter, and transdermally.

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