What is the term for the process that involves getting rid of the waste products of a drug from the body?

The term for the process that involves getting rid of the waste products of a drug from the body is excretion. Excretion refers specifically to the removal of metabolites and waste substances, including those produced through the body's metabolic processes, from the body. This often occurs through various systems, chiefly the kidneys, which filter blood and create urine as a means of expelling these waste products.

In contrast, metabolism refers to the chemical processes occurring within the body that convert substances into energy or other usable forms, while reabsorption is the process of reclaiming certain substances from a filtrate or waste for reutilization by the body. Distribution denotes how a drug is dispersed throughout the body's tissues after administration. Each of these processes plays a critical role in pharmacokinetics, but they are distinct functions that contribute differently to how the body handles medication.