Intravenous Administration
Drug delivery directly into a vein, providing immediate and complete bioavailability. Intravenous administration is used for peptide drugs requiring precise dosing or rapid onset in clinical settings, including bivalirudin, eptifibatide, carfilzomib, and vasopressin.
Technical Context
IV administration achieves F = 100% by definition (reference standard for bioavailability calculations). IV routes include: bolus (rapid injection over seconds to minutes for acute effect), intermittent infusion (infused over 30-120 minutes at defined intervals), and continuous infusion (constant rate for sustained levels). Bivalirudin is given as an IV bolus followed by continuous infusion during percutaneous coronary intervention. Eptifibatide uses bolus plus infusion for acute coronary syndromes. Carfilzomib is given as a 10-30 minute IV infusion. Difelikefalin is administered IV after each haemodialysis session. IV administration requires venous access and healthcare professional supervision, limiting use to hospitals and clinics.