What is meant by the first-pass effect in pharmacology?
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Correct answer: The metabolism of a drug before it reaches systemic circulation
The first-pass effect refers to the metabolism of a drug in the liver and sometimes the intestinal wall before it reaches systemic circulation. This process reduces the amount of active drug available in the bloodstream.
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More First-Pass Effect questions
- Which organ is primarily responsible for the first-pass metabolism of drugs?
- Which route of drug administration is most affected by the first-pass effect?
- Which route of administration bypasses the first-pass metabolism completely?
- Which drug property is most likely to be affected by a strong first-pass effect?
- Which blood vessel carries absorbed drugs from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver for first-pass metabolism?
- Which alternative route is often used to avoid the first-pass effect for drugs like nitroglycerin?