How the Body Absorbs and Uses Medicine | Merck Manual Consumer Version

Learn more on how the body absorbs and uses medicine: http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/drugs/administration-and-kinetics-of-drugs/drug-absorption

How rapidly drugs are absorbed into the body depends on factors such as the speed of the gastrointestinal tract, how acidic it is, and whether the drug is designed to be absorbed slowly (called slow- or sustained-release preparations). Drugs come in tablets, capsules, skin (transdermal) patches, suppositories, and liquids (solutions). Drugs are transformed (metabolized) in the body by enzymes such as those in the liver or kidneys. Drugs that are inactive when taken, but become active after being metabolized, are called pro-drugs. Drugs are eliminated from the body in the urine (for example, if they are soluble in water or after being metabolized) or feces.


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