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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Pharmacokinetics

Bioavailability

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/ˌbaɪoʊəˌveɪləˈbɪləti/nounCommon term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, bioavailability means: The proportion of a dose that reaches the general circulation unchanged and can act in the body; by definition it is 100 percent for intravenous drugs.

In Turkish: biyoyararlanım

How it is used

Shown as F in formulas and given as a percentage or fraction. Oral bioavailability can be low because of poor absorption or first-pass metabolism. It explains why oral and IV doses of the same drug can differ, and it is the basis of bioequivalence studies for generics.

Example sentences

  1. The oral bioavailability of this drug is only about 30 percent.

  2. Because its bioavailability is so high, the IV and oral doses are almost the same.

Common collocations

  • oral bioavailability
  • high bioavailability
  • low bioavailability
  • reduce bioavailability
  • absorptionThe movement of a drug from the place where it is given, such as the gut or the skin, into the bloodstream.
  • first-pass metabolismThe breakdown of a swallowed drug in the gut wall and liver before it reaches the general circulation, which lowers the amount that can act in the body.
  • bioequivalenceThe situation in which two products containing the same drug release it into the blood at the same rate and to the same extent, so they can be expected to work in the same way.
  • intravenousGiven directly into a vein, either as a quick injection or as a slow infusion, so that the medicine reaches the bloodstream at once.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Pharmacokinetics

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.