pharmacokinetics

[fahr-muh-koh-ki-net-iks, -kahy-]

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the branch of pharmacology that studies the fate of pharmacological substances in the body, as their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.

pharmacokinetics

/ ˌfɑːməkəʊkɪˈnɛtɪsɪst, -kaɪ-, ˌfɑːməkəʊkɪˈnɛtɪks /

noun

1. the branch of pharmacology concerned with the way drugs are taken into, move around, and are eliminated from, the body

Other Word Forms

• pharmacokineticist noun
• pharmacokinetic adjective
• pharmacokinetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pharmacokinetics¹

First recorded in 1955–60; pharmaco- + kinetics

Example Sentences

A new study has shown that variation in the microbiota of the human gut impacts the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and thus the effectiveness of the drug.

Read more on Science Daily

"In terms of potency, it will be hard to improve the molecule any further, but there are many other properties to consider and optimize, for example, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and aqueous solubility," says Kitamura.

Read more on Science Daily

One way to try to counteract the variability in chemotherapy pharmacokinetics is a strategy called therapeutic drug monitoring, in which the patient gives a blood sample at the end of one treatment cycle.

Read more on Science Daily

She was among 16 advisers who said trial data and pharmacokinetics, a branch of science that studies the movement of drugs in the body, brought them to a clear conclusion about the oral drugs.

Read more on Washington Times

“The pharmacokinetics of miniproteins”—the ways the human body can metabolize, absorb and excrete them—“will be a barrier to their usefulness as drugs,” Procko says.

Read more on Scientific American