Which of the following routes of administration is considered parenteral?

The route of administration classified as parenteral is intramuscular (IM), because parenteral routes involve delivering medication directly into the body, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. Intramuscular injections administer the drug into a specific muscle, leading to rapid absorption into the bloodstream, which is crucial for the effectiveness of certain medications.

In contrast to intramuscular administration, the oral route involves taking medication by mouth, which requires the drug to undergo digestion and absorption through the gastrointestinal system. Topical administration applies medication directly to the skin or mucous membranes, where it primarily acts locally. Intranasal delivery involves administering medication through the nasal passages, which, while effective for certain conditions, is not classified as parenteral because it still involves absorption through mucosal tissue rather than direct injection or infusion.