title: Pharmacokinetic consequences of spaceflight.
abstract: Spaceflight induces a wide range of physiological and biochemical changes, including disruption of gastrointestinal (GI) function, fluid and electrolyte balance, circulatory dynamics, and organ blood flow, as well as hormonal and metabolic perturbations.  Any of these changes can influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of in-flight medication.  That spaceflight may alter bioavailability was proposed when drugs prescribed to alleviate space motion sickness (SMS) had little therapeutic effect.  Characterization of the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic behavior of operationally critical medications is crucial for their effective use in flight; as a first step, we sought to determine whether drugs administered in space actually reach the site of action at concentrations sufficient to elicit the therapeutic response.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Operations and Research Branch, NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Putcha
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Cintrón
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D001510:Bed Rest; D001682:Biological Availability; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D013026:Space Flight; D013997:Time Factors; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D000082:Acetaminophen; D012601:Scopolamine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine