Which of the following factors can affect drug absorption?

Enhance your pharmacology knowledge for the assessment. Prepare with quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations and hints.

Drug absorption is a crucial pharmacokinetic process that influences how effectively a medication reaches systemic circulation. The correct choice highlights factors such as solubility, stability, and gastrointestinal pH, all of which play significant roles in determining the rate and extent of drug absorption.

Solubility is essential for absorption because only drugs that dissolve can cross biological membranes, particularly in the digestive tract. A drug that is poorly soluble may not be absorbed well, even if it is administered correctly. Stability refers to the ability of a medication to maintain its chemical integrity in various environments, such as the gastrointestinal tract. If a drug is not stable, it may degrade before absorption can occur, thereby reducing its efficacy.

Gastrointestinal pH is another critical factor. The pH of the stomach and intestines can affect the ionization of a drug. Many drugs are weak acids or bases, and their ionized or non-ionized form will dictate their ability to permeate the intestinal lining. For instance, a weakly acidic drug may be better absorbed in the acidic environment of the stomach, whereas a weakly basic drug may be absorbed more efficiently in the more alkaline environment of the intestines.

In contrast, while genetic predisposition, age, weight, time of administration

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