Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

In terms of acquisition speed, which medication administration route is the slowest?

1. IV/IO

2. IM

3. SQ

4. PO

The correct answer is: PO

The oral (PO) route is the slowest for medication acquisition speed compared to other administration methods. This is primarily due to the processes involved in digestion and absorption. When a medication is taken orally, it must first travel through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it may be affected by stomach contents, acidity, and the presence of food. The medication is then absorbed into the bloodstream through the walls of the intestines, which can take significant time depending on various factors such as the type of medication, the individual’s metabolism, and their current health status. In contrast, medications administered intravenously (IV) or intraosseously (IO) enter directly into circulation, providing rapid effects and immediate bioavailability. Intramuscular (IM) injections are faster than oral administration, as they bypass the GI tract but still require absorption into the bloodstream from muscle tissue. Subcutaneous (SQ) administration is faster than oral but typically slower than IM due to the absorption process from the fat layer beneath the skin. These differences highlight why the oral route is the slowest among the listed options, particularly in emergency medical scenarios where rapid medication effect is crucial.