pharmacokineettinen

Pharmacokineettinen refers to the study of how a drug moves through the body. It encompasses four main processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, often abbreviated as ADME. Absorption describes how a drug enters the bloodstream from its site of administration. Distribution is the process by which the drug travels from the bloodstream to various tissues and organs. Metabolism, also known as biotransformation, is the chemical alteration of the drug by the body, usually by enzymes, often in the liver, to make it easier to eliminate. Excretion is the removal of the drug and its metabolites from the body, primarily through urine or feces. Understanding these pharmacokinetic processes is crucial for determining appropriate drug dosages, dosing frequencies, and routes of administration to achieve therapeutic effects while minimizing toxicity. Factors like age, disease state, and drug interactions can significantly influence a drug's pharmacokinetics. This knowledge allows healthcare professionals to personalize drug therapy for individual patients.