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Pharmacokinetics: ADME

Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism & Excretion — from membrane transport to clearance, kinetics and model-informed dosing

Past RGUHS + DNB + MPMSU + MUHS · 239 RGUHSSep '25 RGUHSMay '25 DNBDec '25 DNBDec '25 DNBDec '25 DNBDec '25 DNBDec '25 DNBJun '25 MUHSWinter '25 MUHSWinter '25 RGUHSSep '25 MPMSUOct '25 MPMSUMay '25 MPMSUJan '25 MPMSUJan '25 MPMSUOct '25 MPMSUMay '25 MPMSUOct '25 MPMSUMay '25 RGUHSSep '25 RGUHSMay '25 RGUHSJun '24 RGUHSJun '24 DNBMay '24 DNBMay '24 DNBOct '24 DNBOct '24 MUHSWinter '24 MUHSWinter '24 RGUHSJun '24 RGUHSDec '23 RGUHSJul '23 DNBApr '23 DNBApr '23 DNBApr '23 DNBApr '23 DNBApr '23 DNBApr '23 DNBOct '23 DNBOct '23 DNBOct '23 DNBOct '23 DNBOct '23 MUHSSummer '23 MUHSSummer '23 MUHSWinter '23 MUHSWinter '23 MUHSWinter '23 RGUHSDec '23 RGUHSJul '23 MPMSUJun '23 MPMSUJun '23 MPMSUJun '23 MPMSUJun '23 RGUHSNov '22 RGUHSNov '22 RGUHSMay '22 DNBDec '22 DNBJun '22 DNBJun '22 DNBJun '22 DNBJun '22 DNBJun '22 MUHSSummer '22 MUHSSummer '22 MUHSSummer '22 RGUHSNov '22 RGUHSMay '22 MPMSU2022 RGUHSMay '22 RGUHSNov '21 RGUHSJul '21 RGUHSJul '21 RGUHSJul '21 DNBDec '21 DNBDec '21 DNBDec '21 DNBDec '21 DNBJun '21 DNBJun '21 DNBJun '21 DNBJun '21 MUHSWinter '21 MPMSUAug '21 MPMSUAug '21 MPMSUAug '21 RGUHSNov '21 RGUHSNov '20 RGUHSJun '20 RGUHSJun '20 DNBDec '20 DNBDec '20 DNBDec '20 DNBDec '20 DNBJun '20 DNBJun '20 DNBJun '20 MUHSSummer '20 MUHSWinter '20 MPMSU2020 RGUHSNov '20 RGUHSJun '20 RGUHSJun '20 RGUHSNov '19 RGUHSNov '19 RGUHSMay '19 RGUHSMay '19 MUHSSummer '19 MUHSSummer '19 MUHSWinter '19 MUHSWinter '19 RGUHSMay '19 MPMSUMay '19 MPMSU2019 MPMSUMay '19 MPMSU2019 RGUHSNov '19 RGUHSMay '19 RGUHSMay '19 RGUHSNov '18 RGUHSMay '18 RGUHSMay '18 MUHSSummer '18 MUHSWinter '18 RGUHSNov '18 MPMSU2018 MPMSUMay '18 MPMSU2018 RGUHSNov '17 RGUHSNov '17 RGUHSNov '17 MUHSSummer '17 MUHSSummer '17 MUHSSummer '17 Suppl MUHSSummer '17 Suppl MPMSUJun '17 MPMSU2017 MPMSU2017 MPMSU2017 MPMSU2017 RGUHSNov '16 RGUHSNov '16 RGUHSNov '16 RGUHSNov '16 RGUHSJun '16 DNBDec '16 DNBDec '16 DNBDec '16 DNBDec '16 DNBDec '16 MPMSU2016 MPMSU2016 DNBDec '15 DNBDec '15 DNBDec '15 DNBDec '15 DNBDec '15 MUHSWinter '15 MUHSWinter '15 MUHSWinter '15 MPMSU2015 MPMSU2015 MPMSU2015 DNBDec '14 DNBDec '14 DNBDec '14 DNBDec '14 DNBDec '14 MUHSWinter '14 MPMSU2014 DNBDec '13 DNBDec '13 DNBDec '13 MPMSU2013 DNBDec '12 DNBDec '12 DNBDec '12 RGUHSMay '11 RGUHSMay '11 RGUHSMay '11 RGUHSMay '11 DNBDec '11 DNBDec '11 DNBDec '11 MPMSU2011 MPMSU2011 MPMSU2011 MPMSU2011 RGUHSMay '11 RGUHSOct '10 RGUHSMay '10 RGUHSMay '10 RGUHSMay '10 RGUHSMay '10 RGUHSOct '10 RGUHSMay '10 MPMSU2010 MPMSU2010 MPMSU2010 MPMSU2010 RGUHSMay '10 RGUHSOct '09 RGUHSOct '09 RGUHSOct '09 RGUHSOct '09 RGUHSOct '09 RGUHSMay '09 RGUHSMay '09 RGUHSMay '09 RGUHSMay '09 RGUHSOct '09 MPMSU2009 MPMSU2009 RGUHSOct '09 RGUHSMay '09 RGUHSOct '08 RGUHSOct '08 RGUHSOct '08 RGUHSApr '08 RGUHSApr '08 RGUHSApr '08 RGUHSSep '07 RGUHSApr '07 RGUHSApr '07 MPMSU2007 MPMSU2007 RGUHSApr '07 RGUHSSep '06 RGUHSSep '06 RGUHSSep '06 RGUHSApr '06 MPMSU2006 MPMSU2006 MPMSU2006 RGUHSApr '06 MPMSU2005 MPMSU2005 MPMSU2004 MPMSU1995

Pharmacokinetics: ADME

1. Definition, scope, and the ADME framework

Figure 1 — adme overview
Figure 1 — adme overview
  • Pharmacokinetics (PK) is the quantitative study of drug movement into, through, and out of the body — "what the body does to the drug" — as distinct from pharmacodynamics ("what the drug does to the body") (KDT 8e Ch.2, pp.15–16).
  • The four processes of pharmacokinetics are Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion — collectively ADME; metabolism + excretion together constitute elimination (G&G 14e Ch.2, pp.23–24).
  • Some texts prepend Liberation (release of drug from its dosage form) → LADME; liberation is rate-limiting for solid oral dosage forms where dissolution precedes absorption (G&G 14e Ch.2, p.25; KDT 8e Ch.2, p.21).
  • Clinical relevance: PK parameters determine the route, dose, latency of onset, time of peak action, duration of action, and dosing frequency of a drug (KDT 8e Ch.2, p.15).
  • The intensity and duration of response are governed by drug concentration at the site of action, which is itself a function of the drug's disposition; in most cases this tracks the systemic (plasma) concentration (G&G 14e Ch.2, pp.23, 42).
  • The molecular determinants of a drug's movement and availability at its site of action are: molecular size (MW), degree of ionization, lipid solubility of the ionized vs nonionized forms, structural features, and protein binding (G&G 14e Ch.2, p.23).
  • All four ADME processes require the drug to traverse one or more biological membranes; the plasma membrane is the basic barrier (G&G 14e Ch.2, p.23).
  • Goal of applying PK principles: increase probability of therapeutic success while reducing adverse drug events and drug–drug interactions (G&G 14e Ch.2, p.23).
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Pharmacokinetics Adme

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