Physiological AdaptationQuestion 1727 of 2368
Why might an infant who receives an oral drug have higher drug levels in the bloodstream than an adult?
- The infant's liver breaks down more of the drug on its first pass
- The infant's kidneys remove the drug faster than an adult's kidneys do
- The infant's liver is not fully mature, so first-pass elimination is decreased
- The infant's stomach has fully mature cells that destroy much of the drug
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Correct answer: The infant's liver is not fully mature, so first-pass elimination is decreased
An immature liver reduces first-pass elimination, so more drug reaches the bloodstream.
Source: Nursing Pharmacology, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics: NEONATE & PEDIATRIC. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Physiological Adaptation"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026