Sublingual route for systemic drug delivery

Abstract

Drug delivery via the oral mucous membrane is considered to be a promising alternative to the oral route. Sublingual route is a rapid onset of action and better patient compliance than orally ingested tablets. Sublingual literally meaning is “under the tongue”, administrating substance via mouth in such a way that the substance is rapidly absorbed via blood vessels under tongue. The portion of drug absorbed through the sublingual blood vessels bypasses the hepatic first‐pass metabolic processes giving acceptable bioavailability.  Sublingual technology is convenient for dosing in geriatric, pediatric and psychiatric patients with dysphagia. Sublingual drug delivery shows fast therapeutic action than orally ingested drugs with fewer side effects. This review highlights advantages, disadvantages, different sublingual Gland, sublingual formulation such as tablets, films drops, sprays etc, evaluation parameters. Keywords: Sublingual delivery, dysphagia, sublingual gland, improved bioavailability, evaluations.