The sublingual route of administration is one by which a drug is administered purifying the tongue, being the fastest form of absorption by the body compared to pills taken orally, where the pill should disintegrate and metabolize. The liver, only afterwards, is absorbed, and exert its therapeutic effect.
Only a few active substances are available for sublingual administration, as they must have specific characteristics to be feasible through this form of administration, as they have a rapid systemic effect because, in addition to being absorbed directly into the bloodstream, they are not necessarily metabolized by the liver.
- The sublingual route is a widely used option in cases where medications need to be administered urgently.
- Such as during a heart attack.
- For example.
- Where nitroglycerin is given under the tongue.
- Which is 1 to 2 minutes effective.
It is also an option for active substances altered or degraded by gastric yokes and liver metabolism, since absorption by the oral mucosa is highly vascularized, substances are rapidly absorbed and transported through the veins below the oral, brachycoccal and internal jugular lining, draining blood into the systemic circulation.
The sublingual pathway is also an alternative to be used in children who cannot take pills.
The main benefits of sublingual drug administration are
The main drawbacks of sublingual drug administration are:
Also, it is difficult to use with active substances that have an unpleasant taste.
Some examples of drugs available to be administered sublingually through: nitroglycerin in case of infarction, where urgent action is needed to avoid the sequelae; zolmitripton, which is a drug indicated to quickly relieve migraine symptoms; buprenorphine, indicated for very mild and chronic pains.