Pharmacokinetics Overview

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to pharmacokinetics, including processes and definitions crucial for understanding drug action and movement within the body.

Pharmacokinetics

The movement of the drug through the body and what the body does to the drug.

Absorption

The process by which a drug enters the body and reaches systemic circulation.

Distribution

The process of drug dispersal from the bloodstream to target tissues.

Metabolism

The chemical alteration of a drug in the body, often occurring in the liver.

Elimination

The process of removing drugs from the body, typically through urine or feces.

First-pass effect

The metabolism of a drug before it reaches systemic circulation, often occurring in the liver.

Bioavailability

The amount of unchanged drug that reaches systemic circulation and is available for action.

Volume of Distribution (VD)

A measure of the degree to which a drug disperses into body tissue rather than remaining in plasma.

Ligand

A molecule that binds to a receptor to produce a pharmacological effect.

Half-life

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

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals; effects other than those desired.

Parenteral routes

Drug administration methods outside the digestive tract, such as intravenous or intramuscular.

Saturation

A condition where the enzymes required for drug metabolism are fully utilized, leading to unpredictable plasma levels.

Protein Binding

The attachment of drugs to plasma proteins, influencing their active concentration in the body.

Receptor

A target molecule in the body that a drug binds to, producing a physiological effect.