Which term encompasses absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications?

The term that encompasses absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of medications is pharmacokinetics. This field of study analyzes how the body interacts with a drug after it is administered. It is essential for understanding the overall behavior of medications within the body, including how quickly they reach systemic circulation, how they are distributed among body tissues, how they are metabolized by the liver or other organs, and how they are ultimately excreted, typically by the kidneys.

Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, refers specifically to the effects of the drug on the body and how those effects are achieved, focusing on the relationship between drug concentration and effect. Pharmaceutics deals with the formulation of drugs and how those formulations affect the delivery and release of the drug into the body. Pharmacotherapy involves the use of drugs to treat disease and manage patient care but does not specifically cover the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Understanding pharmacokinetics is critical for healthcare professionals to ensure effective and safe medication use in patient treatment.