What can agents classified as irritants cause when administered?

Agents classified as irritants can lead to inflammation, pain, and burning sensations upon administration. This occurs because irritants prompt a local inflammatory response where the tissue becomes inflamed and sensitive. The body responds to these agents as potential harmful substances, resulting in a release of inflammatory mediators that cause pain and discomfort.

While significant tissue necrosis and blistering of the skin can occur with more severe agents, irritants primarily cause a less extensive, yet still significant, reaction characterized by local inflammation and discomfort. Enhanced absorption of medication is generally not a characteristic of irritants and can be more related to other factors, such as formulation and delivery methods rather than the irritant properties of a drug.