Oral administration | |
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Oral administration of a tablet | |
Other names | By mouth, per os (PO) |
Oral administration is a route of administration where a substance is taken through the mouth. Per os abbreviated to P.O. is sometimes used as a direction for medication to be taken orally. Many medications are taken orally because they are intended to have a systemic effect, reaching different parts of the body via the bloodstream, for example.[1]
Per os (/ˌpɜːrˈoʊs/; P.O.) is an adverbial phrase meaning literally from Latin "through the mouth" or "by mouth". The expression is used in medicine to describe a treatment that is taken orally (but not used in the mouth such as, for example, caries prophylaxis).[2] The abbreviation P.O. is often used on medical prescriptions.
Oral administration includes:
Enteral medications come in various forms, including[1] oral solid dosage (OSD) forms:[3]
and oral liquid dosage forms:[4]
Concomitant ingestion of water facilitates in swallowing tablets and capsules.[5] If the substance has disagreeable taste, addition of a flavor may facilitate ingestion.[5] Substances that are harmful to the teeth are preferably given through a straw.[5]