Which term describes the study of drugs within the body, including absorption and excretion?

The term that describes the study of drugs within the body, particularly focusing on how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted, is pharmacokinetics. This field examines the time course of drug concentration in the bloodstream and tissues, aiming to understand how the body interacts with a drug after it is administered.

Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, refers to the study of the effects of drugs on the body, including mechanisms of action and the relationship between drug concentration and effect. Pharmacogenomics studies how an individual's genetic makeup affects their response to drugs, which can influence drug efficacy and safety. Pharmacotherapeutics focuses on the use of drugs to treat diseases and manage symptoms, emphasizing clinical application rather than the pharmacokinetic processes involved. Therefore, pharmacokinetics is the most accurate term to describe the study of drug absorption and excretion processes.