North Carolina Medication Aide (Med Tech) Practice Exam

What should you do with a sublingual medication?

1. Chew it for faster absorption

2. Swallow it whole with water

3. Let it dissolve under the tongue as intended

4. Mix it with food for easier intake

The correct answer is: Let it dissolve under the tongue as intended

Sublingual medications are designed specifically to be placed under the tongue, where they can dissolve and be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the rich supply of blood vessels in that area. This method of administration allows for rapid onset of action, bypassing the digestive system and liver metabolism, which can lead to slower absorption and reduced efficacy if swallowed. When a sublingual medication is allowed to dissolve under the tongue, it can provide quicker therapeutic effects due to its direct entry into the systemic circulation. This characteristic makes sublingual routes particularly valuable for medications that need to act quickly, such as those used in urgent medical situations. Options that suggest chewing, swallowing, or mixing the medication with food would undermine the intended pharmacokinetic benefits of the sublingual route. Chewing the medication could alter its intended release mechanism, while swallowing it would delay absorption, similar to how standard oral medications function. Mixing it with food would also negate the quick absorption advantage, significantly impacting the medication's effectiveness. Therefore, letting the medication dissolve under the tongue as intended is the correct and most effective approach.