Some people don’t like the idea of using a medicine rectally, or their doctor may feel that an oral medicine is better for them. You may be asked to take or give a medicine in one of three ways.

Ways of using oral or sublingual medicines

• Oral or by mouth: This usually means swallowing the pill with a glass of water. This should be done only if the person is awake and alert and is not at risk for choking on the pill or water.
• Sublingual: This means that the pill is placed under the tongue where it will dissolve and be absorbed into the bloodstream. The person should not drink or eat anything until the medicine is gone.
• Buccal: This means that the medicine can be placed in the mouth between one of the cheeks and the nearby gum where it will dissolve and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Usually, medicines that can be taken sublingually can also be taken buccally. The person should not drink or eat anything until the medicine is gone.

Taking the pills orally is usually easier for most people. However, it may be hard to give medicines this way to an infant or young child, a person who is too sleepy or not able to cooperate, a person who can not keep the medicine in their mouth (for example someone who drools or has vomited), or a person who is having too many seizures. In these situations, talk to your doctor about rectal forms of the medicine such as Diastat.

Specific orders needed from your doctor

• Name of the drug.
• The dose of each pill and how much to take at each dose.
• When it should be given - for example after a certain number of seizures or after clusters of seizures that last a certain period of time.
• How often it can be taken and how much in one day.
• Times when it should NOT be taken.
• How to take it – swallow, sublingual or buccal.

• Talk to your doctor about the best way to use 'as needed' seizure medicine.
• Make sure you have a specific plan on when to use it and when not to.
• Include information on how to give 'as needed' medicines on your Seizure Plan so others will know how best to help you.

Continue to Giving Oral or Sublingual Medicines

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07