Why do some drugs have to be injected?
Introduction
Medications come in many forms: tablets, capsules, injections, inhalants, creams, patches and suppositories, to name just some. The form that a drug comes in is very important, because it affects how much of the drug is available to the body and how quickly it works.
This page explains the reasons behind these different ‘routes of administration’, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each. It also gives some tips on how to cope with having an injection, which should be particularly useful for those taking drugs in the interferon beta class.
by Lucy Sutton, RGN
Lucy Sutton is an MS support nurse in Surrey, UK. She has 11 years of experience and extensive training in supporting people with MS.
