The physician prescribes a buccal medication. What should the medical assistant instruct the patient to do?

When a physician prescribes a buccal medication, it is important to understand that this type of medication is intended to be absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, specifically between the gums and the inner cheek. Therefore, placing the medication between the lower teeth and cheek allows for direct absorption into the bloodstream, which can result in a quicker effect than other routes of administration.

Instructing the patient to place the medication in this manner ensures optimal effectiveness, as the buccal route bypasses the digestive system and allows the medication to enter circulation without being metabolized by the liver first. This method is particularly useful for medications that need to act quickly or when a patient has difficulty swallowing pills.

Alternative methods, such as swallowing the medication with water, would not be appropriate for buccal medications, as they would be subjected to the digestive process and reduce effectiveness. Similarly, placing the medication under the tongue refers to sublingual administration, which is different from the buccal route, and crushing the medication could alter its formulation and effectiveness, in addition to potentially introducing complications with the absorption of the medication.