SUBLINGUAL DRUG DELIVERY: AN INDICATION OF POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE ROUTE

Abstract

Sublingual literally meaning is “under the tongue”, refers to a method of administrating substance via mouth in such a way that the substance is rapidly absorbed via blood vessels under tongue. Sublingual route is a useful when rapid onset of action is desired with better patient compliance than orally ingested tablets. Drugs that are given sublingually reach directly in to the systemic circulation through the ventral surface of the tongue and floor of the mouth. The portion of drug absorbed through the sublingual blood vessels bypasses the hepatic first‐pass metabolic processes giving acceptable bioavailability. As nowadays most of the people need effective relief within a short period of time so sublingual is the most suitable form of administration. New sublingual technologies address many pharmaceutical and patient needs, ranging from enhanced life‐cycle management to convenient dosing for paediatric, geriatric, and psychiatric patients with dysphagia.