A client presents to the healthcare setting with a diagnosis of chronic liver failure. The nurse understands this will affect which step of pharmacokinetics?

Absorption

Excretion

Metabolism

Distribution

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. Absorption:
Chronic liver failure primarily affects the metabolism of drugs rather than their absorption. While liver disease can impact various bodily functions, the absorption of medications is generally more influenced by gastrointestinal factors and not as directly affected by liver function.

B. Excretion:
Excretion of drugs is primarily managed by the kidneys, not the liver. While liver failure can lead to changes in drug metabolism, it does not directly impair the excretion process, which is largely renal. However, compromised liver function can indirectly affect renal excretion due to altered pharmacokinetics.

C. Metabolism:
Liver failure significantly affects drug metabolism. The liver is the primary site for the metabolism of many medications, converting drugs into more water-soluble compounds for excretion. In chronic liver failure, the liver's ability to metabolize drugs is impaired, leading to potential drug accumulation and increased risk of toxicity. This step of pharmacokinetics is most directly impacted by liver dysfunction.

D. Distribution:
While liver function can affect drug distribution to some extent, it is not as directly impacted as metabolism. Distribution can be influenced by factors such as changes in plasma protein levels and blood flow, but the liver's primary role in drug metabolism is more directly affected by chronic liver failure.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. The drug will be more effective when given in a nonenteral route:
Morphine has a high first-pass effect when taken orally, meaning that a significant amount of the drug is metabolized in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. This reduces the amount of active drug available in the bloodstream. To avoid this extensive metabolism, morphine is often administered through nonenteral routes, such as intravenous or subcutaneous, where it bypasses the digestive system and liver first-pass metabolism, resulting in higher systemic bioavailability and effectiveness.

B. The drug will be most effective when given orally:
Due to the high first-pass effect of oral morphine, a significant portion of the drug is metabolized by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. This means that oral morphine is often less effective compared to other routes of administration, such as intravenous, because the bioavailability of the drug is reduced.

C. The drug is excreted by the kidneys at a slower rate than most medications:
The high first-pass effect primarily affects the drug's absorption and systemic availability rather than its excretion rate. The rate at which a drug is excreted by the kidneys is generally unrelated to its first-pass effect. Morphine’s excretion is influenced by its metabolism and clearance, but not directly by the first-pass effect.

D. The kidney will metabolize some of the drug before it reaches the bloodstream:
The first-pass effect occurs primarily in the liver, not the kidneys. It involves the metabolism of the drug by the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. Therefore, this option incorrectly attributes the first-pass effect to kidney metabolism.

A. Does not have an effect B. Increases C. Decreases D. Enhances

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A) Does not have an effect: Food can significantly affect drug dissolution and absorption, so it is not accurate to say it has no effect. The presence of food in the gastrointestinal tract can alter how drugs are absorbed.

B) Increases: While food can sometimes increase the absorption of certain medications by stimulating digestive processes, it generally does not increase drug absorption for all medications. In many cases, food can delay or decrease the rate of drug absorption.

C) Decreases: Food commonly decreases the rate and extent of drug absorption. This can occur because food may bind to the drug, alter the pH of the stomach, or affect gastric emptying, leading to reduced drug dissolution and absorption.

D) Enhances: Food generally does not enhance drug dissolution and absorption for most medications. While some medications are better absorbed with food, in many cases, food can reduce the rate at which a drug is absorbed, leading to decreased efficacy.

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A client presents to the healthcare setting with a diagnosis of chronic liver failure. The nurse understands this will affect which step of pharmacokinetics?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse reads in a drug information guide that PO morphine has a high first-pass effect. Which of the following would the nurse expect?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A client asks why she needs to take a medication on an empty stomach. The nurse explains that food generally has which effect on drug dissolution and absorption?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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