Word parts
What it means
The route for a drug placed under the tongue to dissolve. The drug passes through the thin mucous membraneMYOO-kus MEM-braynThe moist lining of body openings and passages, such as the mouth, nose, eyelids, gut and airways.muc/o mucus-ous relating toFull entry straight into the blood, so it works fast and skips the first pass through the liver. Nitroglycerin is the best-known sublingual drug.
For the nurse
Teach the client to let the tablet dissolve fully and not to chew or swallow it, and not to eat, drink or smoke until it is gone. Sublingual nitroglycerin may cause a brief burning or tingling and a headache.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | SL |
|---|---|
| Spanish | sublingual |
| Also written | sublingually |
Related terms
orally
By mouth.
mucous membrane
The moist lining of body openings and passages, such as the mouth, nose, eyelids, gut and airways.
angina
Chest pain or pressure that happens when the heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen.
absorption
The taking in of a substance, such as a drug or a nutrient, into the bloodstream.