Pharmacokinetics Key Concepts

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to pharmacokinetics, as discussed in the lecture.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs move through the body and what the body does to the drug over time.

Absorption

The process by which a drug moves from the site of administration into the bloodstream.

Distribution

The movement of the drug from the bloodstream to the target tissues.

Metabolism

The alteration of a drug's chemical structure, often in the liver, to facilitate elimination.

Excretion

The process of removing drugs from the body, primarily through the kidneys.

Bioavailability

The fraction of an administered dose of unchanged drug that reaches systemic circulation.

First Pass Effect

A phenomenon where the concentration of a drug is significantly reduced before it reaches systemic circulation, primarily due to metabolism in the liver.

Prodrug

An inactive drug that is converted into an active form through metabolism.

Half-life

The time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce by 50%.

Albumin

A protein in the blood that many drugs bind to, influencing their distribution and effectiveness.

Volume of Distribution (Vd)

A pharmacokinetic parameter that measures the distribution of a drug throughout the body's fluids and tissues.

Saturable Metabolism

A condition where the metabolic capacity of the liver enzymes is exceeded, leading to increased drug levels in the blood.

Therapeutic Range

The plasma concentration range in which a drug is effective without being toxic.

Loading Dose

An initial higher dose of a drug given to rapidly achieve effective plasma concentrations.

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance can harm a living organism, which can result from improper dosing or interactions with other drugs.

Elimination Route

The path through which drugs and their metabolites are expelled from the body, primarily through urine.