This document discusses drug excretion, which is the process by which pharmaceutical substances are removed from the body. It occurs through various mechanisms including renal excretion through the kidneys, biliary excretion through bile and feces, and excretion through breast milk, expired air, saliva, tears, and sweat. Renal excretion is affected by factors like pH, competition between substances, and age. Understanding drug excretion is important for nurses because it influences drug half-life, care for patients with conditions like heart failure or renal dysfunction, and impacts what drugs can be excreted through breastmilk.

1. EXCRETION
Kamryn Smith, Carolyn Hughes, Brennah
Kelly, Danielle Alcantar-Lopez, Meagan Taff

2. Drug Excretion
Defined:
The process in which
pharmaceutical
substances are
removed from the body
through many different
mechanisms

3. Forms of
Excretion
• Renal
• Bile/feces
• Breast Milk
• Expired air from lungs
(anesthetics)
• Saliva
• Tears
• Sweat

4. Renal Excretion

5. Factors Affecting
Renal Function
• pH dependent ionization
• Competition
• Age

6. Why should a nurse know this and how does it
affect patient care?
• Drug Half-Life
• Congenital Heart Failure
• Renal Dysfunction
• Breastmilk

7. Bibliography
BILIARY EXCRETION AND ENTEROHEPATIC CYCLE. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2017, from
https://sepia.unil.ch/pharmacology/index.php?id=57
Burchum, J. (2016). Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 9th Edition. [Pageburstl].
Retrieved from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/9780323321907
Greenblatt, D. J. (n.d.). Elimination half-life of drugs: value and limitations. Retrieved
August 26, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3994325
Smith, B. Y. (2016, June 23). Drug Excretion / Elimination. Retrieved August 26, 2017,
from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Drug-Excretion-Elimination.aspx