Reading the title of this article you may think that it will only be scientific and go right over your head. Have no fear—it will be easy for you to understand every word of this article. Yes, this will be an article listing some science terms, but you will understand what everything means while also understanding the benefits of the sublingual delivery system.
At some point in our lives we’ve always had to take a tablet or pill by mouth. Whether it was medication or a vitamin, we’ve all endured the process of putting a tablet on our tongue and gulping down a cup of water, hoping we’ve swallowed it in one gulp and won’t have to try it again. Swallowing a pill, no matter how good it is for you, is not always a pleasant experience. However, the benefits outweigh the discomfort.
So let’s talk a little more about this traditional way of administering medication. Taking capsules or tablets when you needed to talk medicine has ben done for so long that it has never been questioned or battled. It’s just what we’ve all been used to. Now, there are some medications that come in a liquid form and you’re able to simply swallow the necessary amount. This of course is more convenient that swallowing a pill, but there are not a large number of medications that come in liquid form. Yet, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for dispensing medicine when you look further into the liquid form to medicines.
Let’s talk about what other ways there may be for you to take medication without having to swallow it and endure discomfort. One of the new and innovative ways is by doing what is called a sublingual delivery system. So what does “sublingual” mean? Sublingual means “under the tongue”. It is basically a method of administering medication to someone through their mouth and under their tongue. When this happens, there is no swallowing involved. The individual simply puts the medication under their tongue or in their cheek and it is then absorbed via their blood vessels.
This method of administration makes it easier for a drug or medicine to work faster because it goes directly into the bloodstream. According to the International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, there are many benefits to this method of delivery for most drugs. “Drugs that are absorbed through the oral mucosa directly enter the systemic circulation, by passing the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism in the liver. For some drugs, this results in rapid onset of action via a more comfortable and convenient delivery route than the intravenous route,” they explained. They continue to say that, “Oral route is most preferred route by medical practitioners and manufacturer due to highest acceptability of patients. About 60% of all dosage forms available are the oral solid dosage form.”
When compared to other traditional methods of drug delivery to the body, like capsules or tablets, the sublingual delivery system surpasses them and comes with no discomfort to you from swallowing. In addition, there are patients who suffer from gastrointestinal issues who would otherwise suffer through the traditional method of swallowing medicine if it were not for the sublingual delivery system of medicine.
Another consideration of taking medication through the traditional form of swallowing a pill is that not everyone can physically endure swallowing because of age, mental health, or physical disease. The sublingual delivery system administered through their mouths would turn out to be the only method they could actually receive their medication.
It’s obvious that the sublingual delivery system is more advantageous than swallowing a tablet. So, let’s list the advantages of the Sublingual Medication Delivery System versus capsules or tablets:
- Its ease of use—basically anyone can receive medication through this method, or administer the medicine themselves the same way, because it’s all done by mouth.
- Its rapid absorption in the body—when you take medication through the sublingual delivery system the medicine is immediately absorbed through the body and the bloodstream ensuring that its effects are immediately felt and you feel relief.
- Its comfort—water isn’t necessary any longer through the sublingual delivery system, so you will no longer experience discomfort from swallowing large tablets.
- Its convenience—the sublingual delivery system is easy to administer and it makes life convenient for the doctor who is administering it and the patient who is receiving it.