How to take your medicine

By mouth (orally): this is the most common way of taking medicines.
The medicine is swallowed and passes from the stomach or intestine into the bloodstream and is carried to all parts of the body. The speed at which this happens depends on several factors:

• The form in which it is given (eg syrup or tablet)
• Whether it is taken with food, after food or on an empty stomach
• Its ability to pass into blood vessels
• How it reacts with the acidic conditions in the stomach and alkaline conditions of the upper intestine
• Whether it interacts with other medicines given orally

Also certain medications to treat angina and sickness are placed under the tongue or between the teeth and the cheek respectively. With these types ofjoints products where a quick effect is desirable, the medicine is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth.

By injection: medicines may be injected to produce an effect on the entire body. Medicines are often injected when people are unable to take medicines by mouth (or other routes into the body are inconvenient or inappropriate), when a very rapid effect is needed or for medicines that aren't absorbed well when given orally.

There are several ways of injecting medicines:

• Intravenous (IV): the medicine is injected directly into the bloodstream, usually via a vein near the surface of the body (eg in the hand). Medicines injected intravenously enter the bloodstream directly and reach their site of action almost immediately (eg anaesthetics).
  
  
• Subcutaneous (SC): the medicine is injected just beneath the skin. Medicines that are inactivated by the stomach acid or medicines that need to be absorbed slowly may be injected subcutaneously (eg insulin).
  
  
• Intramuscular (IM): the medicine is injected into muscle, usually the thigh, upper arm or the buttock. Intramuscular injections provide a very steady level of absorption and are used, for example, for antibiotics such as penicillin.

Injections are also sometimes used to deliver a medicine directly to the area that needs treatment e.g. steroid injections into joints.

Rectally: the lower end of the large intestine (rectum) that leads to the anus will absorb many medicines. The medicine passes through the cells lining the rectum and into the bloodstream. This method is useful for people who are unable to take medicines by mouth, such as those suffering from nausea and vomiting. Suppositories and enemas are given rectally.

Topically: medicines that are applied directly to the part of the body which is being treated, eg the skin, eyes, ears or nose are called topical medicines. Various types of topical preparations are available, including:

• creams
• ointments
• lotions
• pessaries
• suppositories
• ear, eye and nasal drops
• sticky patches, eg hormone patches and nicotine patches

This is a good way of taking medicines that require a long, slow release into the body.

By inhalation: medicines may be inhaled through the mouth or nose to produce a rapid effect on the lungs and airways (eg asthma inhalers and nebulized solutions for chronic airway disease). Some medicines which have an effect on the whole body (eg general anaesthetics) may also be inhaled. Migraine medicines and medicines used to relieve nasal congestion may also be given by a nasal spray, to provide rapid relief of symptoms.