Isotretinoin: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (Term Paper Sample)

Isotretinoin: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
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Isotretinoin: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Oral isotretinoin is a powerful anti-acne drug but may also be used to treat other skin conditions as may be determined by the doctor. This paper evaluates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this drug.
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacokinetics is a review of a drug’s activity in the body over time. It entails drug absorption, distribution, as well as location in body tissues, and finally excretion.
Isotretinoin is usually absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and later metabolized in the liver to form retinal (Wiegand & Chou, 1998). Retinal undergoes an irreversible oxidation into retinoic acids, which can reversibly convert into two isomers namely 13-cis-retinoic acid and retinoic acid (Wiegand & Chou, 1998). The elimination half life for isotretinoin is 20 hours. Isotretinoin and its partner retinoic acid undergo further metabolism to form oxo- Isotretinoin and oxo-retinoic acid (Wiegand & Chou, 1998). Metabolites of Isotretinoin are normally excreted through urine and feces.
Isotretinonin is a retinoid, and its lipoliphic nature causes variations in absorption when orally taken without food (Wiegand & Chou, 1998; Roche, 2008). But with food (with high fatty meal), its bioavailability increases owing to a decrease in variability (Wiegand & Chou, 1998; Roche, 2008). There is a lag time of approximately 2 hours prior to absorption following oral