What is the importance of intrathecal route of administration in preclinical studies?

The intrathecal route allows direct drug administration to the CSF by circumventing the blood-brain barrier. It therefore allows delivery of smaller drug doses and the occurrence of side effects is reduced compared with systemic routes of drug administration (eg, oral, intravenous and epidural).

When is intrathecal injection used?

Intrathecal administration is a route of administration for drugs via an injection into the spinal canal, or into the subarachnoid space so that it reaches the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is useful in spinal anesthesia, chemotherapy, or pain management applications.

Which drug is given through intrathecal route of administration?

Currently there are only three medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use via the intrathecal route, ie, morphine, ziconotide, and baclofen. Morphine targets opioid receptors within the dorsal horn.

What is the meaning of intrathecal administration?

Intrathecal administration is where drug is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (e.g. epidural anesthetics, administration of some cytotoxic drugs to treat brain tumors).

What is a disadvantage of subcutaneous drug administration?

The slower absorption is a common disadvantage of subcutaneous administration because there is less blood flow to quickly absorb drug; however, this may be an advantage as well, in that lower doses of drugs may last for longer periods.

Is intrathecal same as epidural?

Intrathecal administration is delivered directly into the CSF and into the superifical spinal cord; epidural administration diffuses through the dura into the CSF, and thus has a slower onset of action.

Why is intrathecal chemotherapy used?

Your doctor may recommend intrathecal chemotherapy for two main reasons: to target cancer cells in the space around the brain and spinal cord. to prevent cancer from reaching the CSF from other areas of your body.

What are intrathecal drugs?

Intrathecal drug delivery, also known as the “pain pump,” uses a small pump to deliver pain medication directly to your spinal cord. The pump is surgically placed under the abdominal skin and delivers pain medication through a catheter to the area around your spinal cord.

What does intrathecal administration mean in medical terms?

Intrathecal administration. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Intrathecal administration is a route of administration for drugs via an injection into the spinal canal, or into the subarachnoid space so that it reaches the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is useful in spinal anesthesia, chemotherapy, or pain management applications.

What are the advantages of intrathecal drug therapy?

Advantages of intrathecal therapy. The advantages are as follows: • Drugs can bypass the blood-brain barrier. • Systemic side-effects of several other drugs can be avoided if they are given in smaller doses for localized action in the nervous system.

How is intrathecal drug delivery used in the UK?

Intrathecal drug delivery is currently approved in the UK for: Intrathecal formulations are sterile isotonic drug solutions. The volume of intrathecal injections ranges from 0.5ml to 5ml. Drug solubility in such a small volume can be a challenge for lipophilic agents.

How is intrathecal delivery different from epidural delivery?

Intrathecal delivery involves the direct injection of the drug into the CSF within the intrathecal space of the spinal column, whereas drugs injected in the epidural space have to cross the dura membrane in order to reach the CSF.