Injectable and Implantable Drugs and Devices Have Several Benefits
Injectable and Implantable Drugs and Devices Have Several Benefits
Sep 13
Injectable and implantable drugs and devices have several benefits over other routes of medication administration however there are also associated risks. When patients have difficulty swallowing, are vomiting or are unconscious, then giving medication orally is not a suitable option. Also some drugs would be destroyed by the acid in the stomach, for example insulin, making oral administration not an option. Some drugs can be administered by the use of transdermal patches, which allow the drug to be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, however some people have skin reactions to the adhesives in these patches, and there are only a limited number of drugs available for this route. The other alternative is the rectal route, which in some cases can be useful, however it can be uncomfortable for the patient and only some drugs, mainly for the gastro-intestinal and nervous systems, can be administered via this route.
Injectable and implantable drugs and devices can also be very useful when compliance to oral medication regimes is unlikely, such as in psychiatric cases, or when it is more convenient, such as having a contraceptive implant injected once every three years, rather than taking a pill every morning.
However useful injectable and implantable drugs and devices can be, they are not without their disadvantages. Repeated injections to the same site can cause a hardening of some parts of the skin, and as injections are so invasive, there is always a risk of infection, if they are not administered correctly. With some exceptions, such as the treatment of diabetes, the majority of injections and implants have to be administered by a suitably trained healthcare professional, so are not convenient for self-administration.
