What is the definition of pharmacokinetics?

Pharmacokinetics is defined as what the body does to the drug. This encompasses the various processes that a drug undergoes after it is administered, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (often referred to as ADME). Understanding pharmacokinetics is crucial because it helps in determining the appropriate dosages and frequency of administration to achieve the desired therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects.

In this context, absorption refers to how the drug enters the bloodstream, distribution concerns how the drug is transported throughout the body, metabolism involves the chemical alteration of the drug, and excretion pertains to how the drug and its metabolites are removed from the body. All these processes influence the drug's overall efficacy and safety. Therefore, defining pharmacokinetics as what the body does to the drug encapsulates the essence of these interactions and their significance in pharmacotherapy.