Sublingual route of administration

The sublingual is a route of administration used to avoid the hepatic first pass phenomenon.

Routes of Administration

• ENTERAL
  • Oral
  • Sublingual
  • Rectal
• PARENTERALS
  • Intravenous
  • Intramuscular
  • Subcutaneous
• INHALATION
• TRANSCUTANEOUS

The pharmaceutical form is blocked with the lowering of the tongue, therefore the release of the active principle takes place in the sublingual region. The active principle contained in the pharmaceutical form must dissolve very quickly, be active at low dosages and very liposoluble.

A classic example is constituted by nitrates that are taken sublingually, for the treatment of angina.

The advantages of the sublingual route are:

• rapid absorption;
• the drug reaches the general circulation by skipping the hepatic filter (hence "the" first pass effect ");
  immediate achievement of the bloodstream;
• with the sublingual administration route, the possible destruction of the drug by the digestive juices is avoided;
• the residual drug can be eliminated once the effect is achieved;

The main disadvantages of sublingual administration derive from the uncertainty in the dosage. It cannot also be used for drugs that:

• they are not absorbed by the oral mucosa;
• do not quickly dissolve in the mouth;
• have an unpleasant taste;
• are irritating to the oral mucosa.

Other articles on "Sublingual Route of Administration"

1. Route of oral administration, per os
2. Route of rectal administration