Enzyme inducers and inhibitors?

Question

I am trying to find an easy explanation of enzyme inducers and inhibitors. Everything that I have found is very complicated. Thanks for the help!!

Answer 1

Your body is full of enzymes that do all kinds of things. There are all sorts of enzymes. The enzymes being refered to here are enzymes that break down active drugs into inactive metabolites. Most drugs are broken down into inactive forms before they leave your body. Drugs also can inhibit or induce enzyme metabolism. This is the source of many drug interactions. For example, a particular enzyme breaks down Drug A. If Drug B in an inhibitor of that enzyme, Drug B will inhibit the breakdown of Drug A, and therefore Drug A will hang around in you body longer. If Drug C, induces the same enzyme, that means it speeds it up. Therefore Drug C will cause Drug A to be broken down faster. A Drug can also be broken down by the same enzyme that it induces or inhibits. Certain foods and smoking can also behave as enzyme inducers or inhibitors of drug metabolism.

Answer 2

Enzyme inducers or inhibitors speed or slow the metabolism of substrates (xenobiotics) by the enzymes. Metabolism is the breaking up or oxidation of xenobiotics so that they can be removed from the body.