Pharmacokinetics

Study of the change in drug and metabolite concentrations in tissues and body fluids

“what the body does to a drug”

Therapeutic window = concentration above therapeutic concentration but below a toxic concentration for a needed period of time

Look at the diagram above: Max non toxic conc / min therapeutic conc

Large therapeutic window = safer drug

How to measure in animal or human populations:

ADME

Phases of pharmacokinetics:

Absorption from point of administration to systemic circulation

Distribution from circulating fluids to tissues and organs

Metabolism of drugs by enzymes in body

Excretion of drug/ metabolite by the body

Systemic circulation - the part of the circulatory system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart, to the body, and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.