pharmacokinetics

American  

[fahr-muh-koh-ki-net-iks, -kahy-] / ˌfɑr mə koʊ kɪˈnɛt ɪks, -kaɪ- /

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.

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pharmacokinetics British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• pharmacokinetic adjective
• pharmacokinetically adverb
• pharmacokineticist noun

Etymology

Origin of pharmacokinetics

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.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

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.

From Washington Times • Sep. 12, 2023

Over the past 30 years, we have learned much more about pediatric pharmacology and drug action and behavior, known as pharmacokinetics, and differences compared to adults.

From Slate • Nov. 23, 2016

Dostmann, whose expertise is in pharmacokinetics, or how a drug works in the body, and Lounsbury, who focuses on the body's physiological and biological response to a drug, will teach some of the course.

From US News • Dec. 9, 2015

“I don't have many reviewers for the pharmacokinetics papers so I've been pushing to get people engaged,” says Gayle Brazeau, the journal's associate editor.

From Nature • Oct. 12, 2011