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Originally Posted by Shaani  nope, its a gud explanation!! when a drug like salbutamol is being inhaled, wouldnt its chemical coating (if any) be different to when its being swallowed as a tablet (as its being digested)? if there is a difference could that affect the functioning of the drug in the body? |
For inhaled dosages, other criteria such as particle size come into play. Also if the drug forms 'clumps' it will drop out of the inhaled aerosol hit the back of the throat and make the person cough, or end up being swallowed.
Generally if you can put the drug where you want it to act you minimise side effects.
Drug metabolism can involve portions of active drug, active metabolites, less active metabolites and inactivated drug. Some drugs are even inactive when taken deliberately so that the liver metabolism produces the active drug so that some of the first pass metabolism is 'used up' without inactivating too much of the drug.
Its fun all this science isn't it.