Table 1.

Routes of drug administration.

Oral	Swallowed by Mouth as a Tablet, Capsule, Lozenge, or Liquid
Buccal	Held inside the cheek
Sub-lingual	Placed below the tongue
Enteral	Delivered directly into the stomach or intestine
Inhalable	Breathed in through a tube or mask
Nasal	Given into the nose by spray or pump
Ophthalmic	Given into the eye by drops, gel, or ointment
Otic	Given by drops into the ear
Rectal	Inserted into the rectum
Vaginal	Inserted into the vagina
Topical	Applied to the skin
Transdermal	Given through a patch placed on the skin
Infused	Injected into a vein with an IV line and slowly dripped in over time
Intramuscular	Injected into the muscle with a syringe
Intravenous	Injected into a vein or an IV line
Subcutaneous	Injected just under the skin