Which of the following are topical medications? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a. Intradermal medications
b. Throat swabs and eye drops
c. Vaginal and rectal suppositories
d. Ear drops and bladder instillations
e. Nasal sprays

Answer 1

B, C, D, E
Topical medications are applied to the skin and mucous and respiratory membranes. You can apply topical medications to mucous membranes in a variety of other ways, including the following: (1) By directly applying a liquid or ointment (e.g., eye drops, gargling, swabbing the throat). (2) By inserting a medication into a body cavity (e.g., placing a suppository in rectum or vagina, inserting medicated packing into vagina). (3) By instilling fluid into a body part or cavity (e.g., ear drops, nose drops, bladder or rectal instillation [fluid is retained]). (4) By irrigating a body cavity (e.g., flushing eye, ear, vagina, bladder, or rectum with medicated fluid [fluid is not retained]). (5) By spraying a medication into a body cavity (e.g., instillation into nose and throat). Intradermal (ID) medications are injected into the dermis just under the epidermis and are considered parenteral medications.