Final answer:
Parenteral routes of drug administration include intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injections, while non-parenteral routes include oral, topical, and inhalation methods. Oral administration is the most convenient for home use.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the route of drug administration, which is how a drug is introduced into the body. All parenteral routes bypass the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and include methods such as intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injections. These are commonly used in health-care settings and are preferred when a drug is not absorbed well in the GI tract, needs to be delivered quickly, or when higher plasma levels are desired.
An example of a non-parenteral route is oral administration, where the drug is taken through the mouth and absorbed in the GI tract. Oral administration is generally preferred for home use due to its convenience and non-invasive nature. Vaccines like the polio and typhoid vaccines can also be administered orally. Other non-parenteral routes include topical application where drugs are applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes, and inhalation methods.