oral route
Last reviewed 01/2018
Oral analgesics have the advantages of being simple to administer, pass via a physiological route to their target, and generally are less expensive than other forms of analgesia.
However, the oral route depends on the patient not being "nil by mouth", thorough compliance and variable rates of absorption, is subject to first-pass metabolism, and is non-titratable. It is also reliant on having a physiologically-functioning gut, e.g. no diarrhoea and vomiting.
Practically all common analgesics may be given by the oral route.