Question

Compare and contrast the advantages an disdvantages of using small volume parenterals (SVP) to administer a medication.

Answer 1

Small volume parenteral (SVP) solutions are generally 100 ml or less and are packaged in different ways depending on the intended use.

Advantages of Parenteral Administration

1. An immediate physiological response can be achieved if necessary, which can be of prime consideration in clinical condition such as cardiac arrest, astharna and shock .

2. Drug for uncooperative, nauseous or unconscious patients must he administered by injection.

3 Parenteral therapy is required for drugs that are not effective orally or that are
destroyed by digestive secretions such as insulin other hormones and antibiotics.

4. When desirable, parenteral therapy gives the physician control of the drug since the patient must return for continued treatment, also in some cases the patient cannot be relied upon to take oral administration.

5 In case in which prolonged drug action is wanted, parenteral Forms are available, including the long intrartially and the long acting penecillins administered deep intra muscularly.

6 Parenteral administration can results in local effect for drugs when desired., as in dentistry and anesthesiology.
7. Parenteral therapy provides the means of correcting serious disturbances of fluid and electronic balances.
8. When food cannot be taken by mouth, total nutritional requirement can be supplied by the parenteral route.

Disadvantage of Parenteral Administered

1. The dosage form must be administered by trained personnel and require more time
than those administered by other routes.

2. It is difficult to reverse its physiological effect.

3 Parenteral administration requires strict adherence to aseptic procedures, and some
pain on injection is inevitable.

4. The manufacturing and packaging requirements, parenteral dosage forms are more
expensive than preparations of given by other routes.