Absorption (pharmacology)

Absorption is the journey of a drug travelling from the site of administration to the site of action.[1][2]

The drug travels by some route of administration (oral, topical-dermal, etc.) in a chosen dosage form (e.g., tablets, capsules, or in solution).[3] Absorption by some other routes, such as intravenous therapy, intramuscular injection, enteral nutrition, is even more straightforward and there is less variability in absorption and bioavailability is often near 100%. Intravascular administration does not involve absorption, and there is no loss of drug.[4] The fastest route of absorption is inhalation.[5]

Absorption is a primary focus in drug development and medicinal chemistry, since a drug must be absorbed before any medicinal effects can take place. Moreover, the drug's pharmacokinetic profile can be easily and significantly changed by adjusting factors that affect absorption.

  1. ^ Alsanosi, Safaa Mohammed M.; Skiffington, Craig; Padmanabhan, Sandosh (2014). "Pharmacokinetic Pharmacogenomics". Handbook of Pharmacogenomics and Stratified Medicine. Elsevier. pp. 341–364. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-386882-4.00017-7. ISBN 978-0-12-386882-4.
  2. ^ Yang, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Yu, A.; Sun, D.; Yu, L.X. (2017). "Oral Drug Absorption". Developing Solid Oral Dosage Forms. Elsevier. pp. 331–354. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-802447-8.00012-1. ISBN 978-0-12-802447-8.
  3. ^ LE.JENNIFER (2020-03-27). "Drug Absorption - Clinical Pharmacology". MSD Manual Professional Edition. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  4. ^ Kaplan Pharmacology 2010, page 6, Absorption
  5. ^ Kaplan Pharmacology 2010, Video Lectures, Absorption chapter