The term “pharmacokinetics” is used to describe the scientific study of how drugs are metabolised in the human body following administration.
Here is a mnemonic that will help you to easily remember the factors affecting the pharmacokinetics
Factors affecting drug pharmacokinetics:
- Distribution: how the drug is distributed throughout the body, including factors such as protein binding, tissue permeability, and blood flow.
Absorption rate: how quickly and completely the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream from the site of administration.
Metabolism: how the drug is metabolized or broken down in the body, typically in the liver, into inactive or active metabolites.
- Age: how the age of the patient can affect drug pharmacokinetics, such as changes in metabolism and excretion rates.
- Gender: how gender can affect drug pharmacokinetics, such as differences in body composition, hormone levels, and enzyme activity.
- Elimination: how the drug is eliminated from the body, either through the kidneys in urine or through the liver in feces or bile
- Disease state: how the presence of disease can affect drug pharmacokinetics, such as changes in organ function or blood flow.
Body weight: how body weight can affect drug pharmacokinetics, such as differences in blood volume and tissue distribution.
Route of administration: the method by which the drug is administered (e.g., oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, transdermal).
Drug-drug interactions: how other drugs being taken by the patient can affect drug pharmacokinetics, such as changes in metabolism or elimination rates
Mnemonic: DAMAGED BReaD