Talk:Parenteral

IV?
Does parenteral mean intravenous in most or all cases? This is implied but not stated clearly. The difference between intravenous and intramuscular or subcutaneous injection is nontrivial, especially for those whose veins are narrow or scarred.Donfbreed (talk) 10:15, 24 December 2010 (UTC)

Clarification required
This article should be updated to include a more complete definition of parenteral while directing users to the contrasting enteral route of administration. As I understand it, parenteral routes bypass liver metabolism (ie. they do not demonstrate a "first-pass effect") while enteric drugs are absorbed via the gut and the hepatoenteric circulation. As a result, parenteral delivery is generally quicker and has greater potency. Matthewmazurek (talk) 04:08, 3 March 2011 (UTC)

==I agree with Matthewmazurek that clarification is needed. An expansion might help prepare readers to recognize that the table below the definition is not confined to parental routes. Without an introductory caveat, the table is actually misleading in that the first entry is "Oral". Anything taken orally, since the mouth is the entry point of the alimentary canal, is regarded as the primary enteral route. The oral route should be deliberately placed in contrast to parenteral routes. Source: Holland and Adams,"Core Concepts in Pharmacology" (2007) 2nd ed., Chapter 3.7 (Methods of Drug Administration), page 30. Pearson Prentis Hall, ISBN 0-13-171473-2. MellenyHale (talk) 17:41, 3 August 2011 (UTC)