Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

What is the term used for drug metabolism that involves chemical alteration?

1. Biotransformation

2. First-pass effect

3. Dissolution

4. Sustained-release

The correct answer is: Biotransformation

The term that refers to drug metabolism involving chemical alteration is biotransformation. This process encompasses the various biochemical modifications made by an organism on a chemical compound, including the metabolism of pharmaceuticals. Biotransformation primarily occurs in the liver, facilitated by enzymes that convert lipophilic chemical compounds into more hydrophilic products that can be easily excreted from the body. Biotransformation is crucial for drug efficacy and safety, as it can activate prodrugs, enhance the excretion of active drugs, or convert drugs into metabolites that may be either active or inactive. Understanding this term is essential for clinical practice, as it directly impacts pharmacotherapy management and patient care. The first-pass effect refers specifically to the initial metabolism of a drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation, rather than the broader concept of chemical alteration involved in biotransformation. Dissolution describes the process by which a solid form of a drug dissolves in a solvent, and sustained-release pertains to drug formulation designed to release medication over an extended period, neither of which directly deals with chemical alteration in metabolism.