General Principles Of Pharmacology:Facilitated diffusion

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Some drugs and compounds are too large and/or too polar to diffuse across a lipid membrane. These molecules enter cells by other means. In the case of glucose, a protein exists in the cell membrane that binds glucose and facilitates its movement down its concentration gradient into the cell. Like passive diffusion, facilitated transport does not require energy. However, the transporter may become saturated and other compounds may compete or inhibit.

Fig 1.6 Facilitated diffusion

Sugars and amino acids are transported in this way, as are certain drugs, such as:

Table 1. Drugs transported by Facilitated diffusion

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