What are common routes for medication administration?

The chosen answer accurately identifies common routes for medication administration, which include oral, topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and inhalation. Each of these routes has its specific applications and advantages in patient care, making them essential for various treatment plans.

Oral administration, the most common route, involves taking medications by mouth, which allows for convenient and safe absorption through the gastrointestinal tract. Topical administration applies medication directly to the skin or mucous membranes, often for localized treatment of conditions such as skin irritations or infections.

Subcutaneous and intramuscular routes involve injecting medications into the body, with subcutaneous injections targeting the fatty tissue just below the skin, and intramuscular injections delivering drugs into large muscle groups. These methods can provide a quicker onset of action than oral administration and are useful for delivering medications that need to be activated quickly or that cannot be taken orally.

Inhalation is a route often used for respiratory conditions, allowing medication to be delivered directly to the lungs for immediate effect, especially in the case of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Other options include routes that may not be as commonly referenced for basic medication administration or contain routes that are less frequent in standard medical practice. For instance, while intravenous and transder