What is the primary method of medication administration that involves ingestion through the digestive system?

The primary method of medication administration that involves ingestion through the digestive system is enteral administration. This approach typically includes any medication that is taken orally, such as tablets, capsules, or liquids, and subsequently absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. The enteral route allows medications to be delivered directly into the digestive system, where they can be metabolized and absorbed into the bloodstream.

Enteral administration is often favored because it is convenient, less invasive than other routes, and usually more comfortable for patients. Additionally, medications taken enterally can often be formulated to have sustained-release properties, allowing for a more extended therapeutic effect compared to other methods.

Other routes, such as parenteral (injected directly into the body), topical (applied to the skin), and intravenous (administered directly into the bloodstream), involve different mechanisms of action and absorption pathways, with none specifically involving ingestion through the digestive system like enteral administration does. This makes enteral the clear choice when referring to medication given orally and processed through the digestive tract.