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Redistribution of Drugs



  • In simple words, redistribution means the drug initially goes to certain organs and then from there, it goes to some other organs.

  • This is seen with highly lipid-soluble drugs because lipid-soluble drugs cross the biological membranes easily.

We administer a drug

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it first gets distributed to organs with high blood supply. e.g. brain, kidney, heart

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being lipid soluble, it diffuses back rapidly

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gets redistributed to less vascular but more bulky organs e.g. adipose tissue, muscles

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If the site of action of the drug is an organ with a high blood supply e.g. thiopentone used for general anesthesia.

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first distribution produces rapid action

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But soon the redistribution leads to the termination of the action.

 

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