Grade 2026\2027 A+ Grade
The process in which medications move through the body
- correct answer Pharmacokinetics
absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
- correct answer What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics?
happens with drug movement from the GI tract into the bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
- correct answer Absorption
Takes awhile to get absorbed because it has to go through the GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on stomach
can not crush pill
•Extended release
absorbed in the small intestine
- correct answer Oral absorption
Absorbed 1-2 hours
- correct answer IM absorption
Absorbed 30-60 minutes
- correct answer IV absorption
,Dissolution happens when a po medication breaks down into particles, disintegrates, and dissolves to
combine with liquid so absorption from the GI tract into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster than solids. Food can interfere with the absorption of drugs.
- correct answer dissolution
Parenteral medications (SL, eyedrops, inhalants, transdermal) do not pass through the GI tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed to resist disintegration until the pill reaches the small intestine.
EC and sustained release meds should not be crushed.
- correct answer Drugs that resist dissolution
•Lack of muscle and increased fat changes medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the action
- correct answer Factors that affect absorption
Fillers and other substances that make up tablets as a pill is not 100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the absorption of a drug such as with PCN, which is not well absorbed
from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it penicillin sodium, will increase the absorption of PCN
- correct answer Excipients
•the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein where some of the drug becomes inactive
•Only happens with oral medications
- correct answer first pass effect
Food doesn't move like it should
- correct answer delayed gastric emptying
, refers to the movement of the drug from the circulation to body tissues
- correct answer Distribution
-blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
- correct answer Factors affecting distribution
Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
- correct answer protein binding
drugs not bound to protein
- correct answer free drugs
-Two highly protein bound drugs compete and one might accumulate and cause a toxicity
-it is important to know if you are administering highly protein bound medications and monitor albumin
levels in patients with liver or kidney disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound include: Warfarin
Furosemide
Diazepam
- correct answer Drug Toxicity
-A decrease in albumin levels decrease the protein-binding sites, which means more of the free drug is
circulated.
-This can be fatal with some meds.
-Free drugs are those not bound to protein, which means they are active in the body and cause a
pharmacologic response.
-Older adults, malnourished individuals, and those with liver or kidney disease have low albumin levels.
- correct answer Drug distribution and albumin