What type of medication is most commonly delivered via intrathecal route?

The most commonly delivered medication via the intrathecal route is analgesics. The intrathecal route involves the administration of medication directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This route is particularly useful for achieving rapid analgesia, especially in cases of severe pain, such as in cancer patients or during surgical procedures.

Analgesics, when delivered intrathecally, provide effective pain relief with lower doses, reducing the risk of systemic side effects. Medications like morphine or local anesthetics can be administered in this way to achieve targeted effects while minimizing adverse impacts on other systems in the body.

In contrast, antibiotics are usually given systemically to treat infections, and antineoplastic agents, while sometimes administered intrathecally in the context of certain cancers (like leukemia affecting the CNS), are more commonly used in systemic forms due to their toxic effects. Aspirin is not administered intrathecally due to its lack of therapeutic benefit in this mode of delivery and potential for causing complications.