Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

See also ALCOHOL INTERACTIONS WITH MEDICATIONS;
BIOAVAILABILITY; BIOEQUIVALENCE; CYTOCHROME P 450
(CYP 450 ) ENZYMES; PHARMACODYNAMICS.

pharmacopeia A professional and regulatory
compendium of information about drugs, includ-
ing their formulations, dosages, and therapeutic
uses, that establishes manufacturing, safety, EFFI-
CACY, and prescribing standards. The US Pharma-
copeia (USP) is a formal and official document as
well as a process for maintaining quality standards
across the spectrum of pharmaceutical manufac-
turers, pharmacies, and health-care organizations
(such as practices, clinics, care facilities, and hospi-
tals) after a drug receives approval from the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drugs and
products such as dietary supplements that bear the
indication “USP-verified” or include “USP” with
the product name meet USP standards. Other
countries have similar pharmacopeia (commonly
spelled “pharmacopoeia” outside the United
States) structures.
See also FORMULARY; ORANGEBOOK, THE.

placebo An inert substance that has no biologi-
cal, chemical, or other action within the body,

taken with the intent of producing a therapeutic

effect. The placebo effect refers to the sense of

improvement of symptoms an individual may

experience when taking or using a product that

has no active ingredients. Researchers often use

placebo products when testing new drugs, particu-

larly medications such as PAINrelievers (ANALGESIC

MEDICATIONS), in which the assessment of effective-

ness has a subjective component.

See also INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG(IND); MIND-

BODY CONNECTION.

route of administration The method by which a

person takes or receives a DRUG. The common

routes administration are oral (by MOUTH), sublin-

gual (beneath the tongue), injection, topical,

transdermal, and rectal. Women may use some

drugs intravaginally. Some drugs are available

only in certain forms, such as injectable. Many

drugs are available in numerous forms. Factors

that influence the selected route of administration

include the drug’s formulation and the person’s

ability to take or receive a particular form of the

drug. For example, a young child or person who

has difficulty swallowing or is experiencing NAUSEA

and VOMITINGmay better handle a drug adminis-

route of administration 169

ROUTE OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Route Forms Entry Mechanism
injection intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), IV: into a VEIN, direct entry to the BLOODcirculation
subcutaneous (SC) IM: into a MUSCLE; rapid absorption into the blood
circulation
SC: into the fatty tissue beneath the skin; slow
absorption into the blood circulation

oral (per osor PO) tablet, capsule, liquid digestion breaks down the product, with absorption
usually in the SMALL INTESTINE

rectal suppository Soft carrier wax melts, drug becomes absorbed into the
blood circulation through the wall of the RECTUM

sublingual (SL) tablet, liquid dissolves under the tongue, becoming absorbed into the
blood circulation through the mucosa of the MOUTH

topical cream, ointment, gel, lotion, spray intended to remain within the layers of the SKIN

transdermal patch, cream, ointment intended to be absorbed through the skin into the blood
circulation