The two main organs associated with the elimination of drugs are the kidney and the liver.What would be the effect on the blood level-time curve following the administration of a single dose of a medication in the presence of liver disease or renal failure?

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Liver disease will likely result in impaired metabolism of drugs, especially those that require extensive metabolism to prepare for excretion.Thus liver damage will result in a backup of unmetabolized drug, increasing the peak concentration above that expected if metabolism were occurring normally.Likewise, renal failure will cause a buildup of metabolites awaiting excretion, which will in turn alter normal metabolism rates for drugs, once again causing an increased peak concentration.Since either one of these elimination processes is not functioning normally, the buildup of drug in the body following a single dose will be prolonged, causing the drug to spend more time in the body.Refer to Figures 14-5 and 14-6.

The Two Main Organs Associated with the Elimination of Drugs