Basic concepts in drug metabolism: Part II

There are numerous articles available that provide a comprehensive review of basic concepts of drug metabolism. Our intent in this review article was to provide an overview of some of the basic pathways for drug metabolism, how they may be altered, and what influence they may have on drug therapy. Understanding metabolism should help to develop more effective and safer new drugs and to provide safer and more effective regimens for existing drugs. Although intersubject and intrasubject variability in pharmacokinetics is common, much of it may be explained by differences in metabolism.