Pharmacology Notes

Absorption follows administration and is the process by which a drug is made available for use in the body. It occurs after dissolution of a solid form of the drug or after the administration of a liquid or parenteral drug. In this process the drug particles within the gastrointestinal tract are moved into the body fluids. This movement can be accomplished in several ways: active absorption, passive absorption, and pinocytosis. In active absorption a carrier molecule such as a protein or enzyme actively moves the drug across the membrane. Passive absorption occurs by diffusion (movement from a higher concentration to a lower concentration). In pinocytosis cells engulf the drug particle causing movement across the cell.

As the body transfers the drug from the body fluids to the tissue sites, absorption into the body tissues occurs. Several factors influence the rate of absorption, including the route of administration, the solubility of the drug, and the presence of certain body conditions. Drugs are most rapidly absorbed when given by the intravenous route, followed by the intramuscular route, the subcutaneous route, and lastly, the oral route. Some drugs are more soluble and
thus are absorbed more rapidly than others. For example, water-soluble drugs are readily absorbed into the systemic circulation. Bodily conditions, such as the development of lipodystrophy (atrophy of the subcutaneous tissue) from repeated subcutaneous injections, inhibit absorption of a drug given in the site of lipodystrophy.