Time Course of Drug Responses
Takes ________ half-lives to reach a steady state/plateau
4-5
Measuring plasma drug levels allow us to:
Adjust dosages and times of administration when the drug is not therapeutic or it becomes toxic
Multiple Dose Time Course
Drug levels with repeated doses - results in drug accumulation - Multiple doses allow the drug to accumulate in the blood until a state is achieved where the amount of drug eliminated equals the dose administered
Peak
Drugs high; 1.5 hrs; dose
Trough
Drugs low; 30 minutes; time
Peak and Trough levels
Goal is keep the peak level below the toxic concentration and the trough level above the MEC to maintain therapeutic levels
Termination of effects
Period of time in which the drug effect is no longer seen
Plasma Drug Levels
The concentration of a drug in the blood which correlates to the drugs response
Peak plasma effect
The highest plasma concentration attained from a single dose
Minimal Effective Concentration (MEC)
The lower plasma concentration that will produce a therapeutic effect
Therapeutic Range
The range plasma concentration in which the drug effect is produced without producing toxicity
Onset of action
The time interval between the administration of a medication and the first sign of its onset
Drug half-life
The time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%. The half-life of a drug determines dosing intervals
Duration of action
Time interval between onset of action and termination of action
Peak of Action
What is #1?
Duration of Action
What is #2?
Termination of Action
What is #3?
Minimal Effective Concentration (MEC)
What is #4?
Therapeutic Range
What is #5?
Toxic Level
What is #6?
Peak
What is #7?
Wide range vs Narrow Range
Wide -> Good Narrow -> Bad
The 4 process of pharmacokinetics determine how much of a drug will be at its site of action at any given time. Knowing the time course of drug responses allow us to regulate the time the drug ___________, the time they are most ________, and the time they ______
starts; intense; end
Toxic Level
the plasma concentration of a drug that results in dangerous adverse effects
