Question

Your patient has low protein levels. How might this affect drug distribution?

a. Increase drug distribution

b. Decrease drug distribution

c. No impact on drug distribution

d. Accelerate drug metabolism

Answer 1

Low protein levels can affect drug distribution by slowing down drug distribution to tissues, reducing drug clearance, and causing an overall loss of drug efficacy. Drug interactions can also occur if multiple drugs compete for the same binding site on proteins in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with low protein levels can have an impact on drug distribution. Many anionic, hydrophobic drugs bind to albumin, which is a protein in the blood. This binding can slow down drug distribution to the tissues, reduce drug clearance, and result in an overall loss of drug efficacy. Additionally, drug interactions can occur if multiple drugs compete for the same binding site on albumin, leading to an increase in the availability and effective dose of certain drugs.