The route of administration for drugs that enter directly into the lungs is called what?

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Delivery by inhalation involves breathing the drug in as a gas or aerosol, so it goes straight into the lungs. This route uses the large surface area of the alveoli and the lungs’ rich blood supply, allowing rapid absorption into the bloodstream and a quick onset of effect. That direct access to systemic circulation is why inhaled medications are used for rapid relief or anesthesia.

In contrast, oral administration means the drug is swallowed and must pass through the digestive system and liver (often with first-pass metabolism), leading to slower, less predictable onset. Intramuscular injections place the drug into muscle tissue, where absorption into the bloodstream is slower than inhalation. Sublingual administration places the drug under the tongue for absorption through mucous membranes into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system but not delivering it to the lungs.