Respiratory system drug administration routes

The inhalation route for administering drugs into the pulmonary system for treatment of respiratory diseases eliminates many bioavailability problems such as plasma binding and first-pass metabolism, which are encountered in parenteral or oral administration. Consequently, a small inhalation dose is adequate for achieving... 

Ribavirin can be administered as an aerosol using a small-particle aerosol generator. When administered by this route, the drug has only minimal systemic absorption, with drug concentrations in respiratory tract secretions approximately 100 times as high as those found in plasma. Oral absorption is rapid, and first-pass metabolism is extensive ribavirin s oral bioavailability is 64% and can be increased by administration with a high-fat meal. Steady-state levels are reached after 4 weeks. 

Inhalation Inhalation provides the rapid delivery of a drug across the large surface area of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and pulmonary epithelium, producing an effect almost as rapidly as by intravenous injection. This route of administration is used for drugs that are gases (for example, some anesthetics), or those that can be dispersed in an aerosol. The route is particularly effective and convenient for patients with respiratory complaints (for example, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) as drug is delivered directly to the site of action and systemic side effects are minimized (see p. 219). 

Drugs may be administered directly into the respiratory tract for activity on, or through, the pulmonary epithelium and mucous membranes. Access to the systemic circulation is relatively enhanced and rapid following administration by this route because the pulmonary surface area is large. A drug solution can be administered as an aerosol that is inhaled. The advantage of this route of administration is the almost instantaneous... 

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