Whether you look after other people in a domestic setting or in a professional role, you will know how important it is to handle and administer medications accurately and carefully.
Training in the safe handling of medication, as offered by specialists such as https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/health-and-social-care-courses/safe-handling-of-medication-training, can be invaluable for any staff working to care for others. Let’s take a look at five ways medications can be given.
Inhalation
Some medications are administered via inhalation through the mouth and nose, sometimes using a device called a nebuliser. This is often used for the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
Injections
Some medications can be given as injections, administered either into the skin, the muscle, or a vein, depending on their aim. The benefit of subcutaneous injections is that the medication enters the bloodstream directly, and there is no danger of the digestive system interfering with its efficacy.
Transdermal
Applying a gel or spray directly onto the skin is another option for some medications, according to PubMed. HRT, for example, can be applied transdermally either on the thigh or inner arm.
Eye Drops
Some medications used to treat eye infections can be placed directly into the eye, for example, by using a dropper.
Oral Route
Many medications are simply provided as a tablet or a medicine, and are swallowed whole or dispersed in water and then swallowed. This is often the least invasive, most convenient and most cost-effective method, so it tends to be the most common overall.
