1.5 Routes for Administering Drugs to the Body
What is a drug? Structure of the Digestive System The Mouth and Digestive System The Stomach The Small Intestine The Large Intestine Drugs and the Digestive System Delivering Drugs to the Body Tablets and Capsules Drugs Swallowed in Liquid Form Dermal Patches and Subdermal implants Vitamins
What is a Drug? A chemical substance that changes the physiological state of the human body. Drugs are used for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Eg. Analgesics(pain relievers), anaesthetics, antihistamines, antibiotics, anticoagulants, vaccines, hormone replacements. Psychotropic drugs affect the mind and include antidepressants, tranquilisers, appetite suppressants and amphetamines
How to Be Effective as a Drug To reach the intended site of action at the correct dosage Treats the condition for which it was designed. It lasts long enough in the body for it to take effect. It only affects the tissue it is designed for. It has few side effects on other tissues or body tissues
Most drugs reach the intended site via the bloodstream. Some injected directly but most are absorbed through the digestive system. Passage is affected by; The action of the digestive juices, stomach acid and enzymes Drugs can be solid tablets/capsules or solutions Tablets/capsules may be modified so that their ingredients are released over an extended time rather than all at once.
Structure of the Digestive System
The Stomach
The Small Intestine
The Large Intestine
Drugs and the Digestive System
The Large Intestine
Drugs and the Digestive System
Delivering Drugs to the Body Vitamins
Tablets and Capsules
If the active ingredient of a tablet is sensitive to acid, or is irritant to the stomach lining, an enteric coating can be used, which is resistant to stomach acid, and dissolves in the less acidic area of the intestines. Enteric coatings are also used for medicines that can be negatively affected by taking a long time to reach the small intestine, where they are absorbed.enteric coatingstomach small intestine
Drugs Swallowed in Liquid Form
Dermal Patches and Subdermal implants
Vitamins