Principles of Pharmacokinetics: 3 Questions Answered

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Unit 2 C. Principles of Pharmacokinetics Objective 1: Define bioavailability and describe factors that can alter absorption. Bioavailability is the fraction of the dosage form that reaches systemic circulation after any route of administration. In this particular study, acetaminophen was administered orally, intravenously, and rectally in healthy men aged 18 to 45 and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared for each route. The study assumed IV bioavailability to be 100%. The bioavailability of the oral dose was 89% and 72% for the rectal dose. Drug interactions, intestinal motility, gastric pH, and stomach emptying can all alter absorption. In this study, there were key exclusion criteria implemented to try to minimize the risk of these factors influencing the results. For example, this study was limited to healthy males weighing at least 50 kilograms and testing negative for any immunodeficiencies. This would ideally eliminate factors that can alter absorption like any disease states. All participants were also non-smokers. Some studies have shown that chronic smoking can increase acid secretion in the stomach, so by eliminating smokers from this study the chance that gastric pH affecting the results was minimized. Lastly, the use of any medications or supplements in the 7 days prior to the first dose of acetaminophen administered was not allowed. In addition, during the 3 day length of the study, no other medications were allowed to be administered. These factors together removed the chance of drug interactions affecting the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen. Objective 2: Explain the relationship between clearance and half-life. Clearance is the removal of drug from the body and half-life is the amount of time it takes t... ... middle of paper ... ...were decreased. When given with probenecid, unchanged paracetamol concentration was significantly higher than when administered without probenecid. This is because probenecid inhibits UDPG-transferase. UDPG-tranferase is a key enzyme that is responsible for phase 2 conjugation, so if inhibited, less paracetamol will be converted into its metabolite paracetamol glucuronide. This is why clearance of that metabolite is decreased when the drugs are taken concurrently. Renal elimination was decreased for both paracetamol metabolites because probenecid inhibits the active transport process in the kidneys that causes metabolite secretion into the tubules. Because paracetamol metabolism is reduced when taken with probenecid, there is the potential for adverse effects. More of the active parent form of the drug in the body can lead to potential hepatotoxicity in patients.

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