A patient receives an inhaled corticosteroid to treat asthma. The ...

[jjjetplane]

A patient receives an inhaled corticosteroid to treat asthma. The patient asks the primary care NP why the drug is given by this route instead of orally. The NP should explain that the inhaled form:
 
  a. is absorbed less quickly.
  b. has reduced bioavailability.
  c. has fewer systemic side effects.
  d. provides dosing that is easier to regulate.

Question 2

A primary care NP wishes to order a drug that will be effective immediately after administration of the drug. Which route should the NP choose?
 
  a. Rectal
  b. Topical
  c. Sublingual
  d. Intramuscular

[Kedrick2014]

Answer to Question 1

C
An inhaled corticosteroid goes directly to the site of action and does not have to pass through gastrointestinal tract absorption or the liver to get to the lungs. It is generally well absorbed at this site, although dosing is not necessarily easier to regulate because it is not always clear how much of an inhaled drug gets into the lungs.

Answer to Question 2

C
The sublingual route is preferred for quick action because the drug is directly absorbed into the bloodstream and avoids the pass through of the liver, where much of an oral drug is metabolized. Rectal routes have unpredictable absorption rates. Topical routes are the slowest. Intramuscular routes are slow.

[jjjetplane]

Thanks

[Kedrick2014]

Welcome