| Oral administration | |
|---|---|
 Oral administration of a tablet | |
| Other names | By mouth, per os (PO) |
.jpg)
Oral administration is aroute of administration whereby a substance is taken through themouth, swallowed, and then processed via thedigestive system. This is a common route of administration for many medications.
Oral administration can be easier and less painful than other routes of administration, such as injection. However, the onset of action is relatively low, and the effectiveness is reduced if it is not absorbed properly in thedigestive system, or if it is broken down by digestive enzymes before it can reach the bloodstream. Some medications may cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, when taken orally. Oral administration can also only be applied to conscious patients, and patients able to swallow.[1]
Per os (/ˌpɜːrˈoʊs/;P.O.) is an adverbial phrase meaning literally from Latin "through the mouth" or "by mouth". The expression is used in medicine to describe a treatment that is taken orally (but not usedin the mouth such as, for example,caries prophylaxis).[2] The abbreviationP.O. is often used onmedical prescriptions.[citation needed]
Enteral administration includes:[citation needed]
Enteral medications come in various forms, including[3] oral solid dosage (OSD) forms:[4]
and oral liquid dosage forms:[5]
Concomitant ingestion ofwater facilitates in swallowing tablets and capsules.[6] If the substance has disagreeabletaste, addition of aflavor may facilitateingestion.[6] Substances that are harmful to theteeth are preferably given through astraw.[6]
-solution.jpg)
