DRUG METABOLISM

Course overview

MOST DRUGS UNDERGO CHEMICAL ALTERATION BY VARIOUS BODILY SYSTEMS AS A WAY TO CREATE COMPOUNDS THAT ARE MORE EASILY EXCRETED FROM THE BODY. THESE CHEMICAL ALTERATIONS OCCUR PRIMARILY IN THE LIVER AND ARE KNOWN AS BIOTRANSFORMATIONS. BECOMING KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THESE ALTERATIONS IN CHEMICAL ACTIVITY IS CRUCIAL IN UTILIZING THE OPTIMAL PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTION FOR ANY PATIENT, AND IS THUS OF INTEREST TO ANY PROVIDER WHO ROUTINELY TREATS PATIENTS WITH MEDICATION. THIS ACTIVITY COVERS DRUG METABOLISM, BIOTRANSFORMATIONS, AND POLYPHARMACY, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS ON MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS.