Gastrointestinal tract absorption from

Transport of the benzodiazepines into the brain is rapid, the rate of uptake being determined by the physicochemical properties of the drug. Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, or from an injection site, is the rate-limiting step governing the speed of onset of the therapeutic response. Oral absorption is more rapid when the drug is taken on an empty stomach. 

Tetracyclines, as broad-spectrum antibiotics, are the drugs of choice in treating Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Most tetracyclines are absorbed to various degrees (30 to 100%) from the gastrointestinal tract, primarily from the stomach and upper small intestine. The absorption of tetracyclines is hindered by milk and milk products, by numerous antacids such as aluminum hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium carbonate, and by iron preparations such as ferrous sulfate. Therefore, these and similar substances should not be administered orally together with tetracycline (Figure 3.4). 

It is possible that in this case, although chlorhexidine was poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, absorption occurred through the pulmonary alveoh. 

Approximately 50-90% of the long-acting barbiturates are slowly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Absorption is more rapid when ingested on an empty stomach and in the presence of alcohol. The onset of action varies 30-60 min for mephobarbital... 

Data from animal experiments indicate that methyl acrylate is readily absorbed from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Absorption of methyl acrylate through the skin occurs less readily and may be limited by evaporation of methyl acrylate if the applied dose is unoccluded. 

Toxicity. Fluoroborates are excreted mostly in the urine (22). Sodium fluoroborate is absorbed almost completely into the human bloodstream and over a 14-d experiment all of the NaBF ingested was found in the urine. Although the fluoride ion is covalently bound to boron, the rate of absorption of the physiologically inert BF from the gastrointestinal tract of rats exceeds that of the physiologically active simple fluorides (23). 

The absorption of sulfonylureas from the upper gastrointestinal tract is faidy rapid and complete. The agents are transported in the blood as protein-bound complexes. As they are released from protein-binding sites, the free (unbound) form becomes available for diffusion into tissues and to sites of action. Specific receptors are present on pancreatic islet P-ceU surfaces which bind sulfonylureas with high affinity. Binding of sulfonylureas to these receptors appears to be coupled to an ATP-sensitive channel to stimulate insulin secretion. These agents may also potentiate insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. 

Mesitylene. One of the principal derivatives of mesitylene is the stericaHy hindered phenol of the stmcture shown in Eigure 4. Its trade name is Ethanox 330 and it is produced by Albemarle Corporation (formerly Ethyl Corporation) (31). Ethanox 330 is an important noncoloring antioxidant and thermal stabiHzer for plastics, adhesives, mbber, and waxes (qv) (32,33) (see Antioxidants). The oral toxicity of Antioxidant 330 is extremely low (oral LD q in rats >15 g/kg) since its large size, C H gO, effectively eliminates absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. 

In general the lanthanides, including cerium, have a low toxicity rating (17), especially when they are present in material having low aqueous solubiUty. When orally adrninistered poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract tends to result in the lanthanides generally having Httle effect. The anion is often an important deterrninant in toxicity. 

Drugs that are too highly hydrophilic are often absorbed rather poorly from the gastrointestinal tract. It is sometimes possible to circumvent this difficulty by preparing esters of such compounds so as to change their water lipid partition characteristics in order to enhance absorption. Once absorbed, the esters are cleaved by the numerous esterase enzymes in the bloodstream, releasing free drug. 

Diclofenac is an exceedingly potent COX inhibitor slightly more efficacious against COX-2 than COX-1. Its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract varies according to the type of pharmaceutical formulation used. The oral bioavailability is only 30-80% due to a first-pass effect. Diclofenac is rapidly metabolised (hydroxylation and conjugation) and has a plasma half-life of 1.5 h. The metabolites are excreted renally and via the bile. 

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