What is Sublingual Medication?
Sublingual medication can be defined as a type of medication medicine that is placed under your tongue, and from where it is absorbed into your bloodstream. Sublingual drugs are available in tablet form and look like their oral counterparts. However, they’re not swallowed in the same manner as oral medications.
What are the Drawbacks of Oral Medication?
Traditional oral medicines are taken by swallowing a pill or tablet, which gets digested and absorbed through the lining of the gastrointestinal system and into the smallest blood vessels of the circulatory system that reside there.
The medication which is swallowed has to be capable of withstanding the highly acidic environment in the stomach, pass through the cells lining the intestines, and resist filtration or elimination through the liver before providing relief to the body.
Many medications do not withstand these harsh environments, thereby decreasing the potency and efficacy of the medication. Also, the potency of a few oral medications may be negatively affected by different food and medicines already present inside the stomach.
What are the Advantages of Compounding Sublingual Medications?
1. Quick absorption
Sublingual medicines are placed under the tongue and get directly absorbed into the body compared to oral medication that needs swallowing, digestion, and absorption through the gastrointestinal system. Sublingual medicines dissolve rapidly at the mucous membranes beneath the tongue and enter directly into the tiny blood vessels beneath. From those capillaries, sublingual drugs quickly enter the bloodstream compared to oral medications.
2. Higher Potency
Oral medications have lower potency because of exposure to stomach acids and liver filtrations. By contrast, sublingual tablets bestow the entire quantity of medication directly into the bloodstream without having to undergo liver metabolism. As a result, doctors can prescribe smaller dosages that are guaranteed to attain their intended results. Compounding pharmacies can make custom-based sublingual compounding medications as per individual body needs, making them more effective than oral medication.
3. Reduced Interaction with Other Medications and Foods
A sublingual dose of medication is administered and absorbed from under the tongue. It bypasses the stomach and does not interact with food and other medications already present in the stomach before absorption. It does not cause gastrointestinal irritation like few other oral medications.
4. Ease of Administration
People who have trouble swallowing oral tablets and pills can use sublingual versions of the same medicines. Sublingual doses of medication can be consumed and absorbed easily from under the tongue. Sublingual tablets are ideal for administration in patients who’re unconscious and can’t swallow pills and tablets.
Sublingual Medication Best Practices:
Follow these steps for sublingual administration success
1. Drink Plenty of Water:
It is highly recommended to drink plenty of water, ten to fifteen minutes before placing a sublingual tablet. This step ensures that you produce an adequate quantity of saliva necessary to dissolve the tablet.
2. Place the Pill in the Right Area of Your Mouth:
When placing the tablet in the mouth, one should make sure, whether the pharmacist’s or doctor’s instructions include sublingual or buccal (cheek) placement. Place the tablet under your tongue and wait until the medication dissolves for sublingual administration and place the tablet between your cheek and gums for buccal administration.
3. Avoid Interfering with Absorption:
Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after placing the medication in your mouth. Also, do not smoke for 2 hours before and after taking your medication as this can prevent the mucous membranes in your mouth from properly absorbing the medication.
4. Avoid Washing Away the Medication:
After the tablet has dissolved, the individual should avoid eating or drinking water or juice for at least 30 to 45 minutes. Consumption of food or liquid can wash away some part of your dose resulting in low potency and efficiency.
5. Forget to Take Your Medication:
Most of the medicines can be taken within a time span of 1-2 hours if you forget to take a dose. However, some medications adhere to a stricter schedule. Get in touch with your doctor, if you’ve forgotten to take your medication.
What are the Different Forms of Sublingual Medication?
Sublingual compounding medication for podiatry, pain management, sexual wellness, weight loss, etc. can be easily prepared by the compounding pharmacist for all types of diseases & illnesses. Let’s look at the different forms of sublingual medication.
1. Sublingual Tablets:
Sublingual tablets are shaped like traditional oral medications and are frequently delivered in pill bottles or blister packs. They are placed under the tongue and are convenient for administration.
2. Sublingual Films:
Medications can be converted into a thin, paper-like film. This thin, paper-like film dissolves on the tongue and gets quickly absorbed into your bloodstream. Example: Suboxone.
3. Sublingual Sprays:
Medication in the form of a sublingual spray can be sprayed in the tongue. Few human and veterinary drugs are dispensed in this form.
4. Sublingual Drops:
Sublingual liquids are designed in special formulations as concentrated solution which is then administered in the form of drops under the tongue. Example: Nicocodeine cough preparations.
The administration of medicine in form of sublingual liquids can offer a desirable alternative to the more common and commercially available oral medication forms. Depending upon the nature of the disease and illness, a compounding pharmacist can work with you and your doctor to custom formulate the medications in sublingual form.