Which of the following are the four primary pharmacokinetic processes?

The four primary pharmacokinetic processes are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. These processes describe how a drug moves through the body.

Absorption refers to how a drug enters the bloodstream from the site of administration. This can happen through various routes such as oral, intravenous, or intramuscular.

Distribution describes how the drug is transported throughout the body once it is in the bloodstream, affecting how it reaches various tissues and organs.

Metabolism involves the chemical alteration of the drug, typically in the liver, where it may be broken down into active or inactive forms. This process is crucial for transforming the drug into a form that can be more easily eliminated from the body.

Excretion is the final step in which the drug, or its metabolites, are removed from the body, primarily through the kidneys.

This framework provides a comprehensive understanding of how drugs are processed in the body and is essential for dosing, efficacy, and safety considerations in pharmacotherapy. The other options do not accurately reflect the standard pharmacokinetic processes, focusing instead on routes of administration or components that do not encompass the complete pharmacokinetic cycle.