Medications pharmacokinetic processes

In addition to the above considerations, there is the nature of the ailment or disease being treated. The pharmacokinetic processes also need to be accounted for and can even be taken advantage of in order to optimise medical treatment. 

Within the medical community it has been acknowledged that elderly patients often respond to drug therapy differently from their younger counterparts. Aside from alteration of various pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes, elderly patients tend to suffer from a number of chronic conditions and, thus, have more complex dosage regimens. Additionally, a variety of physical limitations prevalent among the elderly may hinder their ability to self-administer medication. 

The broad definition of a drug as "any chemical that affects living processes" (Benet, Mitchell, and Sherner 1990a) is helpful in understanding the relationship between the body and administered medications. This is a fluid and interactive process, composed of two elements pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. 

At the University of Kentucky Medical Center, the primary pharmacist or pharmacy resident who attends rounds or precepts pharmacy students on a primary medical team is responsible for clinical pharmacokinetic monitoring of all patients on that team. The Clinical Pharmacokinetics Service oversees the pharmacokinetic monitoring process for all patients [i.e., those on teams with assigned pharmacists ( covered )], as well as those who are on teams that do not have an assigned primary pharmacist or resident ( noncovered ). The Clinical Pharmacokinetics Service consists of a faculty member who serves as the director and of pharmacy practice residents and senior pharmacy students during their clinical pharmacokinetic rotations. ... 

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