UNDERSTANDING HOW MEDICATION ENTERS THE BODY
ORAL ROUTE
Medication is swallowed.
ADVANTAGES
1. Easy and convenient.
2. Large volumes can be taken in one dose.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Medication first has to pass through the gastro intestinal system which includes the stomach and its acidic environment which may cause a loss of efficacy to the product.
2. Once in the blood it first has to pass through the liver where various metabolic processes can also affect the efficacy of the product.
3. These processes lengthen the time before the medication is freely released into the blood in order to be transported to the area of need.
4. Certain medications like antibiotics can harm your gut micro biome which lies further down the gastro intestinal tract.
RECTAL ROUTE
Medication is inserted into the rectum.
ADVANTAGES
1. Medication is absorbed directly into the blood stream thus bypassing the gastro intestinal, liver and gut micro biome systems.
2. Due to point 1 the full efficacy of the product can reach the area of need quicker.
3. Medium volumes can be given per dose.
DISADVANTAGES
1. Inconvenient
2. Awkward and unfamiliar to most and thus often avoided.
3. Requires an applicator for a gel or suppository capsules for powder.
SUBLINGUAL ROUTE
Medication is placed under the tongue.
ADVANTAGES
1. Medication is absorbed directly into the blood stream thus bypassing the gastro intestinal, liver and gut micro biome systems.
2. Due to point 1 the full efficacy of the product can reach the area of need quicker.
3. Convenient
DISADVANTAGES
1. Only very small quantities can be effectively absorbed per dose. This means in order to get an equivalent quantity of medication into the blood as oral or rectal routes a highly concentrated product is required.
2. The medication needs to be retained under the tongue for a period of time while absorption is taking place. The longer it is kept there the closer to 100% absorption is achieved.