Which drug example is commonly given via a sublingual route?

• A. Nitroglycerin
• B. Naloxone
• C. Flu Vaccine
• D. Epinephrine

Answer: (A)

Sublingual administration is used for drugs that must act quickly and avoid the digestive system. The under-tongue mucosa is highly vascular and thin, so a drug placed there is absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream and reaches systemic circulation quickly, bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism.

Nitroglycerin is the classic example in emergency care because it rapidly dilates veins, decreases myocardial oxygen demand, and can relieve chest pain within minutes when given under the tongue. The tablet or spray dissolves quickly, providing prompt onset of action without waiting for GI absorption.

Other drugs listed are typically given by different routes due to their formulation or the need for controlled or slower absorption: naloxone is commonly given intranasally or by injection for rapid reversal of opioid effects; vaccines are given intramuscularly; epinephrine is administered intramuscularly or intravenously for rapid systemic effect.