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

Derived Forms

• pharmacokineticist
  noun
• pharmacokinetic
  adjective
• pharmacokinetically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of pharmacokinetics

First recorded in 1955–60; pharmaco- + kinetics

Example Sentences

Kevin Garey, Robert L. Boblitt Endowed Professor of Drug Discovery at the UH College of Pharmacy, assessed the pharmacokinetics and gut microbiome effects of oral Omadacycline in comparison to Vancomycin, another possible C diff drug.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023

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

Many of the actionable pharmacogenes that have been identified to date exert a strong effect on the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of their associated drug, which make them easy to identify.

From Nature • Oct. 13, 2015