PHARMACOKINETICS
Overview
Pharmacokinetics is the relationship
between dose and the resulting concentration in plasma or the effect site. The processes
of absorption, distribution, and clearance govern this relationship. Absorption
is not relevant to intravenously administered drugs, but it is highly relevant to
all other routes of drug delivery. The pharmacokinetic profiles of intravenously
administered drugs are determined by distribution volumes and the process of clearance.
We discuss the physiologic basis of pharmacokinetics and then review basic pharmacokinetic
models that relate dose to plasma or tissue concentration.
