Sublingual nifedipine: the continuing controversy.
Sublingual, as opposed to oral, administration of Nifedipine (Adalat) has gained wide popularity as the method of choice when the most rapid onset of anti-hypertensive action is required. However recent research indicates that this delivery method may be without scientific validation, and may in fact delay the attainment of peak plasma concentrations of the drug. Peak Nifedipine serum concentrations have been shown to be less following sublingual administration than following oral administration, and the time to peak concentration has been shown to be longer following sublingual administration than with the oral dose. The lack of a standardised technique for the administration of sublingual Nifedipine means that in many cases the patient may be receiving sub-therapeutic doses of the drug.
Oliver
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D000284:Administration, Oral; D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D009543:Nifedipine