What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Parenteral dosages?

Advantages

As compared to other dosage forms, parenteral administration offers some selective advantages.

i) It provides a direct route for achieving the drug effect within the body.

ii) Modification of the formulation can however slow down the onset and prolong the action. This may also be achieved by the change in the route of injection.

iii) An immediate physiological response is usually provided by an intravenous injection of an aqueous solution.

iv) Free from hepatic first pass effect

v) Low drug concentration

vi) Low toxicity as compared to solid dosage form

vii) Most suitable route for those drugs which are degraded or erratically or unreliably absorbed when administered orally

viii) Most suitable if the patient is unconscious, difficult to swallow drug etc.

ix) No chance of missing dose.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantages of parenteral products are:

i) Requirement of aseptic technique in production, compounding and handling of product

ii) Requirement of trained personnel for administration

iii) Real or psychological pain associated with the injection

iv) Highly risky if any mistake at happens any point

v) High cost as compared to solid dosage form