Medication Information

Routes of medication administration  

Medications can be administered in various ways. The route of administration may depend on several factors, such as the:

  • Type of medication 
  • Condition being treated 
  • Desired outcome 
  • Your preferences  
  • Your physical abilities 

We have listed many of the different routes of medication administration Refers to how a medication is taken. Some examples include oral, injection, inhalation, topical below, but if you are interested in learning the specific ways your medications can be administered, we suggest that you talk to your healthcare provider.

An infographic illustrating six drug administration routes: oral, injection, topical, inhalation, rectal/vaginal, sublingual/buccal.
Route of AdministrationSiteExample
Oral (most common) MouthPills, tablets, liquids, capsules
InjectionsIntramuscularInjected into muscle tissue with a needleVaccinations
SubcutaneousInjected beneath the skin into fatty tissueInsulin
IntravenousInjected directly through a vein and into the bloodstreamNormal Saline (fluid replacement)
TopicalCreams and ointmentsLocal surfaces on the skinOintment for pain relief
PatchesApplied to skin so that medication is slowly absorbed into the body over an extended period of timeNicotine patches
Eyedrops or Eye OintmentsAdministered directly into the affected eye(s)Antibiotic eye drops
InhalationMetered-dose Inhalers or Dry Powder InhalersAdministered through the mouth or noseAsthma inhaler or nasal spray
Rectal and VaginalSolid dosage form inserted into rectum or vaginaGlycerin suppository
Sublingual or BuccalSublingual: placed under the tongue
Buccal: placed between cheek and gum
Seizure medication (e.g. lorazepam)

References

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2017, April 11). Route of Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/data-standards-manual-monographs/route-administration

Kim, J., & De Jesus, O. (2023, August 23). Medication Routes of Administration. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568677/