Final answer:
Sublingual and buccal drug administration bypasses the GI tract, offering enhanced bioavailability, quicker onset, and fewer safety concerns, making them effective, especially when oral administration is not an option.
Step-by-step explanation:
Applying drugs by sublingual and buccal routes offers several advantages compared to oral administration, especially for drugs that exhibit low bioavailability when passing through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Drugs administered sublingually or buccally are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the tissues under the tongue or the cheek, thus bypassing the GI tract and the first-pass metabolism in the liver. This can result in quicker onset of action, fewer safety concerns, and improved bioavailability of peptidic and peptidomimetic drugs.
Additionally, these routes allow for a more consistent and complete pharmacokinetic profile and are beneficial when the oral route is not viable due to vomiting or intubation. The sublingual and buccal administration is also a commercial advantage, as it can be a preferred option for patient convenience and compliance.