Drug Absorption

    Cards (25)

    • What is drug absorption?
      Movement of a drug into the blood
    • How does drug absorption influence drug effectiveness?
      It affects how well the drug works
    • What does the rate of absorption influence?
      How quickly a drug can have effects
    • Why is quick absorption important for headache relief?
      To reduce pain levels rapidly
    • What happens if there is little drug absorption?
      Not much of the dose enters the blood
    • What did we discuss last week related to drug absorption?
      Therapeutic range
    • What are the factors affecting drug absorption?
      • Lipid solubility
      • Activity of drug transporters
      • Drug ionization
      • Surface area of absorption site
      • Gastric emptying rate
    • What is the relationship between lipid solubility and drug absorption?
      More lipophilic drugs cross membranes easily
    • Why do hydrophilic drugs need transport proteins for better absorption?
      They don't cross membranes well by diffusion
    • What is the role of uptake transporters?
      They increase drug absorption into cells
    • How do efflux transporters affect drug absorption?
      They decrease absorption by moving drugs out
    • How does drug ionization affect absorption?
      Ionized drugs are less lipophilic and absorb poorly
    • Where might a weak acid be absorbed more efficiently?
      In the stomach due to low pH
    • Why is the small intestine the optimal site for drug absorption?
      It has a large surface area
    • What negatively impacts drug absorption in the stomach?
      Thick mucus layer and small surface area
    • How does gastric emptying affect drug absorption?
      Faster emptying increases absorption rate
    • What factors affect gastric emptying?
      1. Consistency of food (liquids vs solids)
      2. Composition of meal (fatty meals slow emptying)
      3. Body position (sitting/standing vs lying down)
      4. Other drugs affecting GI motility
    • How does food consistency affect gastric emptying?
      Liquids move faster than solid foods
    • What effect do fatty meals have on gastric emptying?
      They slow down stomach motility
    • How does body position influence gastric emptying?
      Sitting or standing increases emptying rate
    • Which side should a patient lie on for faster gastric emptying?
      Right side due to stomach orientation
    • How can other medications affect drug absorption?
      They can change the rate of gastric emptying
    • What is a significant takeaway regarding drug absorption?
      More absorption leads to more intense effects
    • How does the speed of absorption relate to drug effects?
      Faster absorption leads to quicker effects
    • How does drug absorption relate to the therapeutic window?
      • More absorption increases drug levels in blood
      • Faster absorption leads to quicker therapeutic effects
      • Important for maintaining effective drug concentrations
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