If clearance decreases while the dose remains constant, what happens to drug exposure as measured by AUC?

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Multiple Choice

If clearance decreases while the dose remains constant, what happens to drug exposure as measured by AUC?

Explanation:
Exposure rises when clearance is reduced because AUC is proportional to Dose divided by Clearance (AUC ≈ F × Dose / CL, with F being bioavailability). With the dose fixed, lowering clearance makes the elimination process slower, so more drug stays in the body over time, increasing the total exposure captured by the AUC. The slower elimination also lengthens the half-life (t1/2 = 0.693 × Vd / CL), reinforcing higher exposure for the same dose.

Exposure rises when clearance is reduced because AUC is proportional to Dose divided by Clearance (AUC ≈ F × Dose / CL, with F being bioavailability). With the dose fixed, lowering clearance makes the elimination process slower, so more drug stays in the body over time, increasing the total exposure captured by the AUC. The slower elimination also lengthens the half-life (t1/2 = 0.693 × Vd / CL), reinforcing higher exposure for the same dose.

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