Drug absorption Flashcards
What sequence does a drug follow after oral administration?
dissolves in GI lumen, absorption across gut wall, liver, systemic circulation
Definition of absolute bioavailability?
usually assessed with reference to an intravenous dose
Definition of relative bioavailability?
Comparison of the bioavailability between formulations of a drug given either by the same or different routes of administration
Definition of bioequivalence?
Formulations containing the same dose of same chemical entity, generally in the same dosage form, intended to be interchangeable
Which parameters define bioequivalence?
Cmax - highest concentration reached in plasma
AUC - area under the plasma concentration time curve
If plasma concentration-time profiles are similar - less likely to cause clinically relevant differences in therapeutic and adverse effects
Possible rate limiting steps for oral drug absorption?
- disintetgration/dissolution time
- gastric emptying and intestinal transit
- movement through membranes (perfusion or permeability)
- first pass metabolism in gut/liver
Role of gastric emptying in drug absorption?
controls the rate of delivery of drug to the small intestine, and affects rate of absorption
Factors affecting gastric emptying?
- co-administration of other drugs
- food
- age
Effect of metoclopramide on gastric emptying?
faster emptying, so faster absorption of drugs co-administered with metoclopramide. higher Cmax, lower Tmax
Effect of anticholinergic on gastric emptying?
slower gastric emptying - lower Cmax and longer Tmax
Effect of gastric emptying on AUC?
None, same amount of drug absorbed just at a different rate
Effect of food on gastric emptying?
transit time increases with size of meal vs fasted or light meal - no significant effect on transit time of small intestine
more variability for large particles than small
Purpose of enteric coating?
to be given on a fasted stomach - drug sensitive to stomach pH. coating won’t last the full delayed transit time if not given fasted
Purpose of drugs given with food?
For poorly soluble drugs, delayed time increases exposure so more can dissolve before entering small intestine
Effects of gastric bypass on drug absorption and bioavailability?
pH changes and reduced surface area of stomach. bypasses main areas of absorption (duodenum and jejunum, approx 75cm)
still limited data on drug absorption - contradictive results.