Skip to main content

Drug Clearance

Meaning

Drug clearance is a fundamental pharmacokinetic parameter that quantifies the volume of plasma or blood from which a substance, such as a pharmaceutical agent or a hormone, is completely and irreversibly removed per unit of time. It reflects the efficiency of the body’s elimination organs, primarily the liver and kidneys, in metabolizing and excreting the compound. This clinical metric is crucial for determining appropriate dosing regimens, ensuring therapeutic efficacy, and preventing drug accumulation and toxicity. Understanding a drug’s clearance rate is especially important in hormonal therapies, as clearance changes can dramatically alter circulating hormone concentrations and downstream physiological effects.