Formulations that avoid the need to swallow include transdermal patches, buccal, rectal, parenteral, intranasal or sublingual formulations. When advising prescribers about alternative formulations it is important that pharmacists consider whether changing the formulation will affect the bioavailability, efficacy or side effect profile of the product.

It is important to always confirm the dose equivalence. As an example, when transferring patients from oral carbamazepine to carbamazepine suppositories the dose should be increased by 25% as the 125mg and 250mg suppositories are equivalent to the 100mg and 200mg tablets respectively.