ADME
Medical abbreviation · Pharmacology
| Stands for | Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ADME stands for Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, a pharmacology abbreviation.
The four processes that make up pharmacokinetics, describing a drug's path from administration to elimination. Drug developers test ADME properties early because poor absorption or rapid metabolism can sink an otherwise promising compound.
Example: Preclinical ADME studies showed extensive first-pass metabolism, so a sublingual form was developed.
Usage notes
Variants include ADMET (adding toxicity) and LADME (adding liberation, the release of drug from its dosage form). Pronounced "ad-mee" or as the letters. Changes in any step, such as liver disease slowing metabolism or kidney disease slowing excretion, are the basis of most dose adjustments.
Related abbreviations
More pharmacology abbreviations
- ADA – Anti-drug antibodies
- ADE – Adverse drug event
- ADR – Adverse drug reaction
- AE – Adverse event
- ATC – Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification
- AUC – Area under the curve
- BAN – British Approved Name
- BBW – Black box warning
- BE – Bioequivalence
- Cmax – Maximum concentration
- Css – Steady-state concentration
- CYP – Cytochrome P450
See all 36 pharmacology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.