Which statement regarding puberty and drug metabolism is true?

Which statement regarding puberty and drug metabolism is true?

• A. It remains constant
• B. It often changes
• C. It stops
• D. It becomes slower only

Answer: (B)

Puberty brings hormonal changes that drive maturation of drug-handling systems, especially in the liver where most metabolism occurs and in the kidneys for clearance. As adolescents grow, the activity and expression of drug‑metabolizing enzymes (like certain cytochrome P450 enzymes) and organ function can change, and this maturation happens at different rates for different individuals. Because of that, how quickly or slowly a drug is metabolized can vary during puberty—sometimes it speeds up, sometimes slows down, and sometimes shifts as puberty progresses. This variability is why dosing in teenagers often needs re-evaluation rather than assuming a fixed rate of metabolism. It’s not constant, it doesn’t stop, and it isn’t only slower; the metabolic rate can change in multiple directions depending on individual development.

Puberty brings hormonal changes that drive maturation of drug-handling systems, especially in the liver where most metabolism occurs and in the kidneys for clearance. As adolescents grow, the activity and expression of drug‑metabolizing enzymes (like certain cytochrome P450 enzymes) and organ function can change, and this maturation happens at different rates for different individuals. Because of that, how quickly or slowly a drug is metabolized can vary during puberty—sometimes it speeds up, sometimes slows down, and sometimes shifts as puberty progresses. This variability is why dosing in teenagers often needs re-evaluation rather than assuming a fixed rate of metabolism. It’s not constant, it doesn’t stop, and it isn’t only slower; the metabolic rate can change in multiple directions depending on individual development.