How Diseases Affect Medications: A Simple Guide
Diseases can change how our bodies handle medications. This process involves four main steps: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (often called ADME). Let’s break each step down simply.
When someone has diabetes, a condition called gastroparesis can slow down how food and medicine leave the stomach. This can affect how well oral medications work.
For example, metformin, a common diabetes drug, might not be absorbed evenly. This means it might not work the same way for everyone.
Some diseases can change how drugs spread throughout the body. Take cirrhosis, a liver problem, for instance. In this condition, the levels of proteins in the blood might change. When there are fewer of these proteins, drugs that usually stick to them can circulate more freely.
This can make the drugs stronger and increase the risk of side effects.
Liver diseases can also affect how medications are broken down in the body. Many drugs are processed by the liver, and if it’s not working well, these drugs can stay in the body longer.
For instance, warfarin is a drug that helps prevent blood clots, and it can be tricky to get the right dose if the liver is not functioning properly.
Kidney problems can greatly affect how drugs are removed from the body. Some medications, like digoxin or certain antibiotics, are usually cleared out by the kidneys.
If the kidneys aren’t working well, these drugs can build up. This is why it’s very important to adjust doses based on how well the kidneys are working.
It’s important to understand how different diseases affect these ADME processes. This helps doctors customize treatments and avoid unwanted side effects. Adjusting doses and monitoring how patients respond to medications can make sure they get the right benefits while keeping risks low.
How Diseases Affect Medications: A Simple Guide
Diseases can change how our bodies handle medications. This process involves four main steps: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (often called ADME). Let’s break each step down simply.
When someone has diabetes, a condition called gastroparesis can slow down how food and medicine leave the stomach. This can affect how well oral medications work.
For example, metformin, a common diabetes drug, might not be absorbed evenly. This means it might not work the same way for everyone.
Some diseases can change how drugs spread throughout the body. Take cirrhosis, a liver problem, for instance. In this condition, the levels of proteins in the blood might change. When there are fewer of these proteins, drugs that usually stick to them can circulate more freely.
This can make the drugs stronger and increase the risk of side effects.
Liver diseases can also affect how medications are broken down in the body. Many drugs are processed by the liver, and if it’s not working well, these drugs can stay in the body longer.
For instance, warfarin is a drug that helps prevent blood clots, and it can be tricky to get the right dose if the liver is not functioning properly.
Kidney problems can greatly affect how drugs are removed from the body. Some medications, like digoxin or certain antibiotics, are usually cleared out by the kidneys.
If the kidneys aren’t working well, these drugs can build up. This is why it’s very important to adjust doses based on how well the kidneys are working.
It’s important to understand how different diseases affect these ADME processes. This helps doctors customize treatments and avoid unwanted side effects. Adjusting doses and monitoring how patients respond to medications can make sure they get the right benefits while keeping risks low.