Structural Biochemistry/Intravenous

Definition

An intravenous (IV) injection is a drug delivery method which the drug is directly injected into the bloodstream. With this method, the onset of the action is much rapid since the drug is being administered directly into the bloodstream. Delivering a drug intravenously can be beneficial when using irritating material since blood vessel walls are highly insensitive to irritants. High concentrations and dosages of drugs can be delivered intravenously much quicker than other methods, which can be beneficial, yet dangerous at the same time.

Disadvantages with using Intravenous Injections

Although intravenous injections can be quick, there are some disadvantages with using this method. A major disadvantage of using IV injections is that repeated injections at the same site results in the area surrounding vein injection site losing its strength and elasticity. In worst case scenarios, if a particular injection site has been punctured into several times, the wall of the vein collapses and blood will no longer move through it. Another concern of using IV injections is the transmission of infections. Contaminated needles and syringes should not be used more than once; nor should they be shared between patients.^[1]

References

1. Hart, Carl. Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior. 12th. McGraw-Hill Humanities, 2008. Print.