What is one potential consequence of administering medication immediately before exercise?

Administering medication immediately before exercise can lead to decreased drug absorption for oral medications. This is primarily due to the physiological changes that occur during exercise. When someone exercises, blood flow is redirected from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to the skeletal muscles and skin to support physical activity. This redirection can impair the absorption of orally administered medications, potentially leading to suboptimal drug levels in the bloodstream. As a result, the effectiveness of the medication can be compromised, making this timing critical for achieving the desired therapeutic effects.

The other options do not accurately reflect the consequences of taking medication just before exercise. For example, increased efficacy of the drug and enhanced therapeutic outcomes suggest an improved performance of the medication, which is less likely due to the absorption issues. Similarly, unchanged metabolic rates of the drug do not take into account how exercise-induced physiological changes can influence drug metabolism and absorption rates.