Routes of Medication Administration

Intravenous, Percutaneous, and Other Ways to Administer Medications

Prescription drugs can be administered in various ways. This includes oral (by mouth), enteral (into the gastrointestinal tract), mucosal (through a mucus membrane), and percutaneous (through the skin).

Administration routes are based on the medication used, how quickly it needs to be absorbed, and the part of the body where the medication needs to have an effect. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist will instruct you on the route of administration needed for your medication. Most drugs are manufactured for a specific route of administration and must be used as directed for safety and efficiency.

This article goes over the different ways medication can be administered.

Various pills in blister packs
Jorg Greuel / Digital Vision / Getty Images 

What Are the Routes of Medication Administration?

In general, two categories of medication administration exist: parenteral and nonparenteral. These two categories also determine whether or not a drug stays in one area of the body (local effect) or is absorbed by the vascular system to be distributed to body tissues (systemic effect).

Parenteral

This administration route involves medication that is injected into the body anywhere other than the mouth or alimentary canal (the entire passage along which food passes through the body from mouth to anus, including the esophagus, stomach, and intestines).

Generally, parenteral is the most reliable, direct, and rapidly absorbed way to administer medications. This mode of administration is used when more complete and faster drug absorption is needed.

Parenteral describes any medication injected into the body via the following routes:

  • Intradermal, injecting a drug into the first layers of the skin
  • Subcutaneous, injecting directly into the fatty tissue under the skin
  • Intramuscular, injecting directly into a muscle
  • Intraarterial, injecting a drug directly into an artery
  • Intracardiac, injecting directly into the heart
  • Intravenous, injecting directly into a vein
  • Intrathecal, injecting into the spinal canal
  • Epidural, injecting into the epidural space of the spinal cord
  • Intraperitoneal, injecting directly into the abdominal cavity

The speed of absorption varies with parenteral administration, but it is faster than oral administration, which is a nonparenteral route. Some of the disadvantages of using the parenteral route are that there is a slight risk of infection, tissue damage, and pain and/or anxiety for some patients.

"Percutaneous" (from the Latin per meaning "through" and cutis meaning "skin") is the term used to describe any medications given through the skin. This includes injections as well as topical/transdermal medications.

Nonparenteral

Nonparenteral is the route that oral medications (pills, capsules, syrups), topical medications (ointments, patches like nitro), and suppositories (vaginal and rectal) are administered. This route includes: 

  • Oral medications are taken by mouth and absorbed into the system through the digestive system. Absorption is slow. Medications that use this option cannot be used if vomiting is occurring.
  • Topical medications are applied directly to a part of the body.
  • Sublingual medication is placed under the tongue for absorption by the body.
  • Buccal medications are similar to sublingual but they dissolve in the cheek rather than under the tongue.
  • Transdermal medications contain active ingredients delivered via the skin for systemic distribution. Some birth control pills and hormone replacements are administered by patches that are absorbed slowly and evenly through the skin, for example.
  • Ophthalmic medications are administered through the eye, usually in the form of drops.
  • Otic medications are administered through the ear.
  • Rectal medications are administered through the rectum and are absorbed by the lower digestive tract.
  • Nasal medications are administered through the nose.
  • Vaginal medications are administered through the vagina.
  • Mucosal medications include those delivered through the nose or are inhaled and absorbed through the nasal mucosa or bronchioles, respectively. Vaginal administration of a medication is also considered mucosal.

The advantage of using these nonparenteral routes is that they are easier and more convenient for most. Unfortunately, if you are nauseated, vomiting, can't swallow, or have intestinal issues, taking medications via the gastrointestinal tract is not recommended.

Summary

Medications can be administered many different ways, including orally, topically, with an injection, etc. The way your medication will be administered depends on various factors like what the medication is, how quickly it needs to be absorbed, and what part of your body needs it.

4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. National Library of Medicine. Medication routes of administration.

  2. Provincial Health Services Authority. Parenteral drug delivery.

  3. National Cancer Institute. Percutaneous.

  4. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. What can be done when treatments don't seem to help?

By Marian Anne Eure
Marian Eure, RN, is a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in adult health care, health promotion, and health education.