When medication is ordered to be given sublingually, how is it administered?

For a medication that is ordered to be given sublingually, the correct method of administration is to place it under the tongue. Sublingual administration allows the medication to dissolve and be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the tissue located beneath the tongue. This method bypasses the gastrointestinal system and can lead to a quicker onset of action compared to oral administration, where the medication must first pass through the digestive system before it enters the bloodstream.

The other options do not reflect the sublingual route of administration. Administering the medication by mouth would involve swallowing it and having it processed by the digestive system. Placing the medication in the cheek refers to the buccal route, which is different from sublingual administration. Instilling the medication in the nasal cavity is a completely different route of administration known as intranasal, which is also not related to the sublingual process. Therefore, placing the medication under the tongue is the appropriate approach for sublingual administration.