That sublingual route is a route of administration used to avoid the first-pass liver phenomenon.
Administration routes
- enteral
- Oral
- Sublingual
- Rectal
- parenteral
- Intravenous
- Intramuscular
- subcutaneous
- INHALATION
- TRANSCUTANEOUS
The pharmaceutical form is blocked by lowering the tongue, therefore the release of the active ingredient takes place in the sublingual region. The active ingredient contained in the pharmaceutical form must be solubilized very quickly, be active at low dosages and very liposoluble.
A classic example is constituted by nitrates that are taken sublingually, for the treatment of angina.
The advantages of the sublingual way are:
- rapid absorption;
- the drug reaches the general circulation skipping the hepatic filter (therefore "the first pass effect");
immediate achievement of blood circulation;
- with the sublingual way of administration the possible destruction of the drug by the digestive juices is avoided;
- the residual drug can be eliminated once the effect is reached;
The main disadvantages of sublingual administration derive from uncertainty in dosing. It cannot also be used for drugs that:
- they are not absorbed by the oral mucosa;
- they do not dissolve quickly in the mouth;
- have an unpleasant taste;
- are irritating to the oral mucosa.
