How does slower gastric emptying in older adults affect medication pharmacokinetics?

Slower gastric emptying in older adults can lead to decreased absorption of medications. This occurs because medications that require a certain amount of time in the stomach for proper dissolution and absorption take longer to reach the intestines, where most absorption occurs. As the gastric transit time increases, there may be variations in how much of the medication is dissolved adequately, potentially impacting its bioavailability.

Certain medications depend on a rapid transition from the stomach to the intestines to be absorbed effectively. When gastric emptying is slower, these medications might not reach their peak concentration in the bloodstream as expected, leading to lower overall absorption. This is particularly important to consider when prescribing medications to older adults, as the altered pharmacokinetics can necessitate adjustments in dosing to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

The other aspects of pharmacokinetics—such as distribution and metabolism—are not directly affected by gastric emptying in the same way, which is why they are not the correct answer.