What is the main purpose of parenteral administration?

The main purpose of parenteral administration is indeed to avoid the digestive tract for quicker effect. Parenteral routes, such as intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injections, allow medications to bypass the gastrointestinal system. This direct delivery into the bloodstream leads to a rapid onset of action compared to oral administration, where a drug must be absorbed through the digestive tract and processed by the liver before reaching systemic circulation.

This method of administration is particularly beneficial in acute situations where prompt therapeutic effects are essential, such as in pain management, emergency care, or during surgeries. Parenteral administration also allows for better control over drug delivery and can be used for medications that may be unstable or poorly absorbed when taken orally.

The quicker effect achieved through parenteral administration stands in contrast to other methods that may have slower absorption rates or require the digestive system to process the medication, which can be influenced by food intake, gastrointestinal motility, and other factors.