Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 15/10/2007 16:27:55

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: neilep on 15/10/2007 16:27:55

Why would a drug have a differing rate of bioavailability dependent on whether it's taken on an empty stomach,  or with food ?

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: neilep on 23/10/2007 18:06:27

Sheesh !!...a whole 8 days and no answer !!

I'm losing my edge here !!

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: Karen W. on 24/10/2007 08:39:08

It effects the way the drugs are absorbed.. if with food it takes longer to absorb, more time released I believe,also protecting lining and slowing effects down, and if its needed to be more direct then it should be taken on an empty stomach to speed absorption and go more directly into the bloodstream as if given in an iv or injection.seems your stomach and liver can also slow absorption down if you have any related diseases. makes it harder for your stomach to digest as well as liver. Intravenously taken it may be more apt to help in cases where the stomach and liver are unable to absorb it in the manner that it is needed.

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: neilep on 27/11/2007 21:04:47

oops !!...forgot to thank ewe Karen for this answer !

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: Karen W. on 27/11/2007 21:29:28

It is not a big deal.. your welcome...I forgot about this question until I saw the subject title and thought oh I can answer that question, I think... LOL I forgot I already answered it! So I corrected typos instead! LOL!

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: JimBob on 28/11/2007 01:26:47

Also, different drugs have different solubility in the complex chemistry of the body.

Title: Bioavailability of drugs (The bodies' ability to use a medication)
Post by: another_someone on 28/11/2007 03:53:12

To expand on what Jim has said:

Eating food can dilute the drug, and so slow its release (basically that is what Karen has said), but a byproduct of this is that it may actually get further through the intestines before being absorbed (some drugs are better absorbed further down the intestines, and so avoiding them getting absorbed in the earlier sections of the intestines may be an advantage).

Also, more directly on what I assume Jim meant, was that eating can stimulate the release of digestive juices (as well as altering the bodies sugar levels, etc.), which may enhance the way the drug takes it action.

Ofcourse, what you eat can also effect how well a drug works, not merely when you eat it.