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What is first-pass metabolism?

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Anonymous

10y ago
Updated: 6/8/2022

First pass metabolism is when some substance (usually a drug) is altered before it can reach its site of action.

Often, drugs that are taken orally are brought by the digestive system into the hepatic portal vein into the liver, which does lots of metabolism. If the same drug could have been administered intravenously (that is, through an injection or line), it would not undergo first pass metabolism because it has bypassed the liver to get into circulation. Eventually, the drug will probably be completely metabolized either way, it's just that the oral route reaches circulation more metabolized than something injected.


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Laurie Hammes

Lvl 13
3y ago

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