The way we give medicine to people is really important. It affects how well the medicine works and how predictable its effects are. However, there are some challenges that can make it harder for the medicine to do its job. Let's break it down:
Absorption Differences: Each way of taking medicine affects how quickly the body absorbs it. For example, when you get a shot (like an IV), the medicine gets to work right away. But if you take medicine by mouth, it might not work as well because it goes through your stomach first. This can make it tricky to figure out how much medicine someone should take.
How the Body Handles Medicine: Different ways of taking medicine change how the body uses and breaks it down. For instance, if someone gets a shot just under the skin, the medicine might not get absorbed as quickly or evenly. This means it could take longer to feel better, which might make patients not want to stick to their medicine routine.
Personal Differences: Everyone is unique, and things like age, weight, and health can change how the body reacts to medicine. For example, older people might process medicine differently, which can make them more sensitive to certain drugs.
Formulation Problems: Not all medicines can be taken in the same way. Some need to be made a certain way to be effective. For example, local pain relievers can’t be taken by mouth because they break down in the stomach.
To help solve these problems, we can use personalized medicine. This means adjusting the way and amount of medicine based on each person's needs. By using information about how genes affect drug reactions, doctors can make better choices. Plus, new technology in how we make medicines might give us more options for how to give them, which can help patients feel better faster.
The way we give medicine to people is really important. It affects how well the medicine works and how predictable its effects are. However, there are some challenges that can make it harder for the medicine to do its job. Let's break it down:
Absorption Differences: Each way of taking medicine affects how quickly the body absorbs it. For example, when you get a shot (like an IV), the medicine gets to work right away. But if you take medicine by mouth, it might not work as well because it goes through your stomach first. This can make it tricky to figure out how much medicine someone should take.
How the Body Handles Medicine: Different ways of taking medicine change how the body uses and breaks it down. For instance, if someone gets a shot just under the skin, the medicine might not get absorbed as quickly or evenly. This means it could take longer to feel better, which might make patients not want to stick to their medicine routine.
Personal Differences: Everyone is unique, and things like age, weight, and health can change how the body reacts to medicine. For example, older people might process medicine differently, which can make them more sensitive to certain drugs.
Formulation Problems: Not all medicines can be taken in the same way. Some need to be made a certain way to be effective. For example, local pain relievers can’t be taken by mouth because they break down in the stomach.
To help solve these problems, we can use personalized medicine. This means adjusting the way and amount of medicine based on each person's needs. By using information about how genes affect drug reactions, doctors can make better choices. Plus, new technology in how we make medicines might give us more options for how to give them, which can help patients feel better faster.