Hard

Why can a medication given by the oral route have a slower or less predictable effect than one given intravenously?

Correct answer: A. It must pass through the gastrointestinal tract and may undergo first-pass metabolism

  • A. It must pass through the gastrointestinal tract and may undergo first-pass metabolism
  • B. It is absorbed directly into the pulmonary circulation before reaching the liver
  • C. It always remains inside the stomach until the full dose is absorbed
  • D. It enters the bloodstream through the skin before reaching the liver

Explanation

Oral medication must dissolve and be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, and some drugs are metabolised in the liver before reaching systemic circulation. Intravenous medication enters the circulation directly and has a rapid, predictable effect.

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About Routes and Safe Medication Administration

Safe medication administration covers oral, sublingual, buccal, topical, inhaled, enteral, intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes, including their absorption patterns and technique. It also includes medication rights, patient identification, documentation, allergy checks, injection site selection and prevention of errors, with route selection distinguished from dosage calculation.

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