FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam 2026 - Free NABP Practice Questions and Study Guide

Acidic drugs are known to have a higher affinity for binding to albumin in the bloodstream. Albumin, a protein found in human blood, primarily carries negatively charged (acidic) molecules. The binding of drugs to plasma proteins like albumin can impact their distribution, metabolism, and excretion in the body, as only unbound drugs are typically pharmacologically active. When acidic drugs are introduced into the bloodstream, they tend to ionize and bind more readily to albumin due to their chemical structure and charge characteristics.

In contrast, aqueous drugs typically do not have specific binding affinities, while basic and neutral drugs may not bind as strongly to albumin since they possess different charge properties. Basic drugs often bind to different plasma proteins such as α1-acid glycoprotein rather than albumin. Therefore, recognizing that acidic drugs have a significant tendency to bind to albumin provides a crucial understanding of pharmacokinetics and drug interaction principles.