The complex sequence of events that occurs after a drug is administered is called?

The term that describes the complex sequence of events that occur after a drug is administered is pharmacokinetics. This field focuses on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs. Understanding pharmacokinetics is essential because it provides insights into how a drug moves through the body, how it interacts with bodily systems, and the time it takes for the drug to exert its effects as well as how long it remains active.

In pharmacokinetics, practitioners analyze factors such as the route of administration, the drug's bioavailability, and how the body's physiological conditions can affect the drug's action. This knowledge is critical for dosing regimens, predicting interactions with other medications, and anticipating the duration of the drug's effect.

The other options, while related to pharmacology, focus on different aspects. Pharmacodynamics examines the biological effects of drugs and how they interact with receptors, pharmacotherapeutics deals with the use of drugs to treat diseases, and pharmacovigilance is concerned with detecting, assessing, and understanding adverse drug reactions and ensuring patient safety regarding drug use. These distinctions clarify why pharmacokinetics is the term specifically linked to the sequence of events following drug administration.