readily absorbed in the alkaline duodenum and upper small intestine. Drugs with Enteric Coating will inevitably slow the release of the drug in question and are best avoided. Some anti- emetic (anti-vomiting) drugs come in EC forms.
Alternative Routes of Administration of Drugs Stomach PEGs & Nasogastric (NG) Tubes
People who have difficulty swallowing sometimes have a surgical procedure that allows for the introduction of liquid food directly into the stomach. This feeding tube is inserted through the wall of the abdomen and is called a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG tube) or ‘stomach peg’.
The administration of drugs is often easier for a person who has a peg. There are no concerns with a drug’s bitter taste, vomiting, or the person’s ability to swallow the required lethal quantity of the drug. For a person with a PEG, a drug can be injected directly into the stomach.
Nasogastric tubes are used to provide fluids to a person who is having difficulty swallowing. This temporary procedure sees a small diameter tube positioned through the nose and down the throat into the stomach. It is possible to deliver fluids directly into the stomach through such a tube. Lethal drugs given in this way need to be in liquid form.
Intravenous Drugs
Drugs in liquid form can also be delivered directly into the body through a needle or cannula that is placed into a vein. The procedure of inserting a needle into a vein requires skill
