Pharmacokinetics
How the body processes a drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME).
Definition
Pharmacokinetics describes how the body acts on a drug — absorption (how it enters the bloodstream), distribution (how it spreads through tissues), metabolism (how it is biochemically transformed, mostly in the liver), and excretion (how it leaves the body, mostly via kidneys). Key PK parameters: Cmax, AUC, half-life, clearance, volume of distribution.
See also
- Pharmacodynamics — How a drug affects the body — its biological effects, receptor occupancy, and dose-response.
- Mechanism of action — The specific biochemical interaction by which a drug produces its pharmacologic effect.