What does "inhalation" refer to in medication administration?

Inhalation in medication administration specifically refers to the process of delivering medication directly into the lungs. This method is designed to allow the medication to be absorbed rapidly through the respiratory tract's mucous membranes, providing quick onset of action, especially in respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

When medication is inhaled, it typically comes in forms like aerosols, nebulized solutions, or dry powder inhalers, which are designed to reach the airways effectively. This route can facilitate localized treatment of respiratory issues by allowing high concentrations of the drug to act directly on the lungs, minimizing systemic side effects compared to other routes of administration.

In contrast to inhalation, the other methods listed do not involve administering medication directly into the lungs. Transdermal patches are used for delivering medication through the skin, intravenous injection involves placing medication directly into the bloodstream, and swallowing medication with water pertains to the oral route. Each of these methods serves different purposes and is selected based on the desired action and onset time for specific treatments.