The abbreviation PO indicates administration by which route?

The abbreviation PO indicates administration by which route?

• A. By mouth
• B. By injection
• C. By rectum
• D. By inhalation

Answer: (A)

Oral administration is indicated by PO; it comes from the Latin per os, meaning by mouth. When a drug is given PO, it is swallowed and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, with bioavailability influenced by factors such as food, stomach acidity, and first-pass metabolism in the liver. This is different from injected forms (parenteral routes), rectal administration, or inhaled medications, which use other pathways and abbreviations. In practice, choosing PO means considering whether the patient can swallow and whether food timing affects absorption.

Oral administration is indicated by PO; it comes from the Latin per os, meaning by mouth. When a drug is given PO, it is swallowed and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, with bioavailability influenced by factors such as food, stomach acidity, and first-pass metabolism in the liver. This is different from injected forms (parenteral routes), rectal administration, or inhaled medications, which use other pathways and abbreviations. In practice, choosing PO means considering whether the patient can swallow and whether food timing affects absorption.