Which type of drug is most readily absorbed in the mouth?

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Study for the Pharmaceutics Xenobiotics Across Bio Membrane Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each providing hints and explanations. Get ready for your pharmacy exam!

Multiple Choice

Which type of drug is most readily absorbed in the mouth?

Explanation:
Absorption across the oral mucosa relies on the drug being in its non-ionized, lipophilic form so it can diffuse through the fatty cell membranes. The mouth is roughly neutral in pH, around 6–7, so a weak base will be increasingly non-ionized as the pH is above its pKa, allowing it to cross the mucosal membrane more readily. Strong acids and strong bases ionize completely at physiological pH, making them less lipophilic and harder to absorb. Weak acids tend to be more ionized at this pH, reducing their absorption compared to weak bases. So a weak base is best suited for rapid mouth absorption.

Absorption across the oral mucosa relies on the drug being in its non-ionized, lipophilic form so it can diffuse through the fatty cell membranes. The mouth is roughly neutral in pH, around 6–7, so a weak base will be increasingly non-ionized as the pH is above its pKa, allowing it to cross the mucosal membrane more readily. Strong acids and strong bases ionize completely at physiological pH, making them less lipophilic and harder to absorb. Weak acids tend to be more ionized at this pH, reducing their absorption compared to weak bases. So a weak base is best suited for rapid mouth absorption.

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