What it means
In pharmacology, absorption is the first step of how the body handles a drug: moving it from where it was given into the blood. IV drugs skip this step. Oral drugs are absorbed mostly in the small intestine, and food, stomach acid, other drugs and blood flow change how fast and how much. In digestion, the small intestine absorbs most nutrients.
For the nurse
Follow instructions about giving a drug with or without food, and spacing it from antacids, calcium or iron when needed. Poor blood flow to the skin or muscle, as in shock, slows absorption of injections.
At a glance
| Spanish | absorción |
|---|---|
| Also written | absorb, absorbed, absorbs |
Related terms
intramuscular
Into a muscle; used for a drug given by injection into muscle tissue.
orally
By mouth.
excretion
The removal of wastes, or of a drug and its breakdown products, from the body.
sublingual
Under the tongue.