An Overview
Tropical Medication:
Such as lotions, powders, aerosol sprays, patches, pasted, and ointments
- To create systemic and/or local effects.
- Maintain skin hydration.
- Protect skin surfaces.
- Reduce local skin irritation.
- Create local anesthesia.
- Treat local infections.
Special Consideration:
Tropical medications should not be administered if skin integrity is altered, unless otherwise indicated. Skin must be cleaned before application to ensure beneficial therapeutic outcomes.
Tropical medications should not be administered if skin integrity is altered, unless otherwise indicated. Skin must be cleaned before application to ensure beneficial therapeutic outcomes.
Rectal Suppository:
Various medications are delivered via rectum and absorbed through mucous membranes of rectum.
- To produce systemic effects or a local effect on gastrointestinal mucosa.
- Approach is convenient and safe.
Contraindication
Should never be administered to patient with rectal surgery or active rectal bleeding.
Special Consideration:
Should never be forced into a mass of fecal matter.
Subcutaneous Injections:
Deposits medication into the subcutaneous tissue layers. 
- To prevent irritation to the gastrointestinal tract.
- To prevent destruction of medication by first-pass hepatic effect of gastric juices.
- To achieve a rapid effect.
Contraindication
In circulatory shock, in reduced local tissue perfusion.
Special Consideration:
Check for five rights of medication administration. Review patient's allergies.
Check for five rights of medication administration. Review patient's allergies.
Intramuscular Injections 
Administer medication into Muscle.
Administer medication into Muscle.
- This method provides rapid drug absorption because muscle tissue is highly vascular.
- Muscle is less sensitive to irritating and viscous medications.
Special Consideration:
- If volume of medication exceeds 5ml in adult of 3ml in a child, tow separate injection should b given at different sites.
- If medication is irritating to the tissue, use Z-tract method.
Z-Track Intramuscular Injections:
To administer irritating medication in muscle and prevent seepage to surrounding tissues.
Special Consideration:
- Needle length should be 2" to prevent medication delivery to subcutaneous tissue.
- Viscosity of solution should be considered when selecting gauge of needle.
Intra-dermal Injections:
Administers medication into dermal layer of skin.
- For diagnostic testing for exposure to specific diseases or method of diagnostic testing for allergens
- For test dose of antibiotics
Special Considerations:
- Patient is related to allergen sensitivity.
- The reaction could be fatal, know the location of resuscitation equipments
- Have appropriate antidotal medications (usually epinephrine hydrochloride, bronchodilator, and antihistamine) available.
Caution:
Avoid use of new products on skin ( i.e., soap or perfumes) or covering injection site with a bandage as these actions may produce false-positive test results.
Intravenous Injections:
Administered directly into the systemic circulation, thus bypassing the absorption phase.
- Used during emergencies, with critically unstable patients, and as a route when rapid and predictable responses are required.
- Antibiotic administration.
- For Blood Transfusion.
- This route is suitable for Fluids administration.
Special Considerations:
- Check five rights of medication administration.
- Verify allergies of patient.
- Be aware of information about drug before administration; Action, purpose, side effects, normal dosage, nursing implications.
Caution:
Always use medication after verifying expiry date.
