Understanding Pharmacokinetics: How Your Body Processes Drugs

Pharmacy kinetics or pharmacokinetics are the effects that the human body has on various drugs that are entered into it. This portion of pharmacology determines whether or not a drug can overcome physiological barriers and reach its target destination.

Absorption

• Absorption is the first portion of any drug's pharmacokinetics. A drug may be absorbed through many different membranes of the body. If a drug is absorbed through the digestive tract, it is known as an enteral medication. If it is administered or absorbed through other means such as injection or inhalation it is known as a parenteral medication.

Distribution

• The distribution portion of pharmacy kinetics deals with the spread of the drug through the body. The spread of any drug through the body is done mainly through the blood in the vascular system. The lymphatic system also contributes minimally to the spread of most drugs in the body.

Metabolism

• Metabolism of drugs is the portion of pharmacokinetics that deals with how any drug is broken down by the body. The liver, the kidneys the skin and the gastrointestinal tract all contribute to the breaking down of drugs. The amount in which each organ influences the metabolism of a drug varies from one medication to another.

Excretion

• Excretion is the process during which a drug or the end product of drug metabolism is removed from circulation. The excretion of drugs is performed mainly through the renal system (kidneys) and through the biliary system (which includes the liver and gall bladder.) Which system excretes a specific drug is decided by the individual characteristics of each drug.