Drug Distribution
Quick Recap and Introduction:
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion
Definition of Terms
•Free Drug - An active •Polar drugs - entrapped
drug or other compound within liposomes are found
that is not bound to a in the internal aqueous
carrier protein. compartments of these
particles, and are readily
Example: Albumin released when the
liposome membrane is
ruptured by ultrasonic
•Albumin - protein made energy.
by your liver. Albumin
enters your bloodstream
•Non-polar - drugs are
and helps keep fluid from
found or intercalated into
leaking out of your blood
the liposome membrane as
vessels into other tissues.
well as being found in the
aqueous compartments
Drug Distribution
The way drugs move through the
bloodstream depending on how the drugs
interacts with the components of blood.
Photo Source: https://www.khanacademy.org
Factors Affecting
Distribution
Blood Flow:
↑Blood Flow = ↑Distribution
↓Blood Flow = ↓Distribution
Factors Affecting
Distribution
Capillary
Permeability:
Image Source: En.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/capillary
Capillary Permeability:
Continous capillaries are
dependent on two type:
-Transporters
-↑↑↑Hydrophobis Drugs
Image Source: En.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/capillary
Factors Affecting
Distribution
Protein Binding:
Image Source: Phys.org
Protein Binding
↑Protein Bound Drug → ↓Free drug
=
↓Drug Distribution → ↑Concentration in plasma
↓Protein Bound Drug → ↑Free Drug
=
↑Drug Distribution → ↑Concentration in Intracellular Fluid
Factors Affecting
Distribution
Solubility
The ability for a drug to be
dissolved in an aqueous
medium.
↑Non-polar/Hydrophobic
↓
↑Distribution
Factors Affecting
Distribution
Volume of Distribution
Represents the apparent volume
into which the drug is
distributed to provide the
same concentration as it
currently is in blood plasma.
Drug Volume Distribution
Low Volume Distribution
Normal Volume Distribution
High Volume Distribution
Volume of Distribution
Low Volume Distribution:
• Drug is heavily protein bound
making it unable to move.
↓Blood flow to tissue ↓Permeability
↓ ↓
↓Distribution ↓Leakiness
Volume of Distribution
Normal Volume Distribution:
• Drug is protein bound but not a ton and is
lower molecular weight but is still
hydrophilic.
Volume of Distribution
High Volume Distribution:
• Drug that is not bound to albumin,
consisting mostly of free drugs,
↑Blood FLow → ↑Permeability
↓
Leaky
↓
Tissues
References
- J.R., M.P., Veterinary
Pharmacology and
Therapeutics, Ninth Edition,
2009
- B.K., Basic and CLinical
Pharmacology, Fourteenth
Edition, 1982
- F.A., Pharmacology, 1996
