What type of medication is designed to dissolve on the tongue?

A. Subcutaneous: Subcutaneous injections deliver medication into the fatty tissue beneath the skin. This route is used for vaccines like MMR or insulin in some cases but is not appropriate for TB skin testing, as it does not produce the localized reaction needed for accurate reading.

B. Intradermal: The TB (Mantoux) test is administered intradermally, just beneath the epidermis, to elicit a localized immune response. Proper placement allows formation of a raised wheal, which can be measured 48–72 hours later to determine exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

C. Enteral: Enteral routes involve the gastrointestinal tract, such as oral or via feeding tube. This route is not suitable for TB testing, as the immune response must occur locally in the skin for accurate interpretation.

D. Intramuscular (IM): IM injections deliver medication into muscle tissue, providing systemic absorption for vaccines or medications. This route is not used for TB testing because it would not create a localized dermal reaction necessary for evaluation.

A. Amoxicillin: Antibiotics like amoxicillin are intended for systemic infection treatment and require scheduled or timed dosing based on pharmacokinetics. They are not appropriate for PCA, which is designed for patient-controlled analgesia, because patient self-administration could lead to underdosing or toxicity.

B. Morphine: Morphine is a potent opioid analgesic commonly administered via PCA to allow the patient to control pain relief within safe dosing limits. PCA improves pain management and patient satisfaction while minimizing delays in analgesic administration.

C. Hydromorphone: Hydromorphone is an opioid used for moderate to severe pain and is suitable for PCA delivery. The PCA device allows titration of analgesia while preventing overdose through programmed lockout intervals.

D. Fentanyl: Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid, can be safely administered via PCA for acute or postoperative pain. PCA delivery allows precise control over dosing and rapid onset of analgesia while reducing the need for frequent nurse-administered injections.