What should patients be told about the procedure for buccal medication administration?

When administering buccal medication, patients should be instructed to place the medication between the gum and the inner lining of the cheek, allowing it to dissolve slowly. This method allows for effective absorption of the medication through the mucosal tissues in the mouth, providing quick onset of action without the need for swallowing or chewing.

This approach is designed to ensure that the active ingredients are released directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and avoiding first-pass metabolism by the liver, which can happen when medications are swallowed. Proper guidance on this technique is crucial for optimally utilizing buccal medications.

The other options are not suitable because swallowing the medication immediately or mixing it with food would negate the advantages of using the buccal method, while chewing could impair the medication's ability to dissolve correctly and be absorbed effectively.