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Additional Routes of Drug Administration

Additional Routes of Drug Administration

Choosing the appropriate route of drug administration is significantly influenced by two key factors: the therapeutic objectives and the inherent properties of the drug being used.
Administering drugs via inhalation allows for the direct delivery of gaseous, volatile substances or droplets to different parts of the respiratory tract. One of the advantages of the inhalation route is the rapid absorption of drugs into the circulatory system, which is possible because of the large surface area of...

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...

Inhaled Medications

Inhaled Medications

Inhaled medications are crucial for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. They are essential for effective treatment and control, ensuring optimal respiratory health and well-being. Inhaled medication delivers drugs directly to the lungs, providing a rapid onset of action and reducing systemic side effects compared to oral or injectable medications. Three primary types of inhalation devices are used to administer these medications: nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers...

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes

Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection, and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs through the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

Published on: November 11, 2013

Rats Chasing the Dragon: A new heroin inhalation method.

Arnold Gutierrez, Michael A Taffe

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|October 3, 2023

Summary

This study successfully models heroin inhalation ("chasing the dragon") in rats, demonstrating effective dose delivery and antinociceptive effects. This novel method is crucial for future opioid research in aging rodent models.

Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Neuroscience
Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

Human opioid use predominantly involves inhalation, yet rodent models primarily use injection or oral dosing.
Existing electronic drug delivery systems (EDDS) do not accurately replicate the popular human method of vaporizing heroin.

Approach:

Rats inhaled vapor from directly heated heroin hydrochloride (HCl) using an e-cigarette atomizer.
Efficacy was assessed via tail withdrawal assay, rectal temperature, and self-administration.

Key Points:

Vaporized heroin produced dose-dependent antinociception and hyperthermia in male rats.
Naloxone reversed antinociceptive effects in female rats.
Rats self-administered heroin vapor, increasing responses with higher reinforcement ratios.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

A Procedure to Study the Effect of Prolonged Food Restriction on Heroin Seeking in Abstinent Rats

Published on: November 11, 2013

Acupuncture in a Rat Model of Asthma

Acupuncture in a Rat Model of Asthma

Published on: August 25, 2020

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

Published on: March 23, 2022

Conclusions:

Direct volatilization of heroin HCl effectively models "chasing the dragon" inhalation in rats.
This inhalation technique is valuable for long-term studies in aging rodents.