Mathematical Fundamentals in Pharmaco*kinetics | Applied Biopharmaceutics & Pharmaco*kinetics, 7e | AccessPharmacy (2024)

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

  • Algebraically solve mathematical expressions related to pharmaco*kinetics.1

  • Express the calculated and theoretical pharmaco*kinetic values in proper units.

  • Represent pharmaco*kinetic data graphically using Cartesian coordinates (rectangular coordinate system) and semilogarithmic graphs.

  • Use the least squares method to find the best fit straight line through empirically obtained data.

  • Define various models representing rates and order of reactions and calculate pharmaco*kinetic parameters (eg, zero- and first-order) from experimental data based on these models.

1It is not the objective of this chapter to provide a detailed description of mathematical functions, algebra, or statistics. Readers who are interested in learning more about these topics are encouraged to consult textbooks specifically addressing these subjects.

CALCULUS

Pharmaco*kinetic models consider drugs in the body to be in a dynamic state. Calculus is an important mathematic tool for analyzing drug movement quantitatively. Differential equations are used to relate the concentrations of drugs in various body organs over time. Integrated equations are frequently used to model the cumulative therapeutic or toxic responses of drugs in the body.

Differential Calculus

Differential calculus is a branch of calculus that involves finding the rate at which a variable quantity is changing. For example, a specific amount of drug X is placed in a beaker of water to dissolve. The rate at which the drug dissolves is determined by the rate of drug diffusing away from the surface of the solid drug and is expressed by the Noyes–Whitney equation:

where d denotes a very small change; X = drug X; t = time; D = diffusion coefficient; A = effective surface area of drug; l = length of diffusion layer; C1 = surface concentration of drug in the diffusion layer; and C2 = concentration of drug in the bulk solution.

The derivative dX/dt may be interpreted as a change in X (or a derivative of X) with respect to a change in t.

In pharmaco*kinetics, the amount or concentration of drug in the body is a variable quantity (dependent variable), and time is considered to be an independent variable. Thus, we consider the amount or concentration of drug to vary with respect to time.

EXAMPLE

The concentration C of a drug changes as a function of time t:

(2.1)

Mathematical Fundamentals in Pharmaco*kinetics | Applied Biopharmaceutics & Pharmaco*kinetics, 7e | AccessPharmacy (2)

Consider the following data:

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Time (hours) Plasma Concentration of Drug C (μg/mL)
0 12
1 10
2 8
3 6
4 4
5 2

The concentration of drug C in the plasma is declining by 2 μg/mL for each hour of time. The rate of change in the concentration of the drug with respect to time (ie, the derivative of C) may be expressed as

...

Mathematical Fundamentals in Pharmaco*kinetics | Applied Biopharmaceutics & Pharmaco*kinetics, 7e | AccessPharmacy (2024)

FAQs

What kind of math is in pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Calculus. Since pharmaco*kinetic models consider drugs in the body to be in a dynamic state, calculus is an important mathematic tool for analyzing drug movement quantitatively. Differential equations are used to relate the concentrations of drugs in various body organs over time.

Is pharmaco*kinetics difficult? ›

Pharmaco*kinetic studies of natural products are challenging because they typically involve the administration of complex mixtures of substances, in many instances of unknown components.

What is pharmaco*kinetics easy? ›

(FAR-muh-koh-kih-NEH-tix) The activity of drugs in the body over a period of time, including the processes by which drugs are absorbed, distributed in the body, localized in the tissues, and excreted.

How do you solve pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Example
  1. As an example, calculate the following loading dose (Mass(mg)/Time(h)): Clearance = 2 L/h. Target concentration = 5 mg/L. Bioavailability = 50% Dosing Interval = 12 h.
  2. Dosing Rate = 2 (L/h) x 5 (mg/L) / 0.50 = 20 mg/h. The liter units cancel. Drug needs to be given at 20 mg/h. We are giving drug every 12 hours.

Is pharmaco*kinetics a calculus? ›

CALCULUS. Pharmaco*kinetic models consider drugs in the body to be in a dynamic state. Calculus is an important mathematic tool for analyzing drug movement quantitatively. Differential equations are used to relate the concentrations of drugs in various body organs over time.

Is pharmacology a lot of math? ›

In pharmacology, math plays a salient role in patient safety. Minor errors in calculations can be the difference between life and death. Heparin is a powerful anticoagulant drug that is measured in small, potent units, so if a math problem in pharmacology is off by just a unit or two, the patient can risk hemorrhaging.

What are the 4 basic of pharmaco*kinetics? ›

The four main parameters generally examined by this field include absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).

What are the 5 stages of pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Pharmaco*kinetics is the movement of a drug through the body's biological systems, these processes include absorption, distribution, bioavailability, metabolism, and elimination. It can be used to study the onset, duration, and intensity of the effect of a drug.

What are the four parts of pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Absorption: Describes how the drug moves from the site of administration to the site of action. Distribution: Describes the journey of the drug through the bloodstream to various tissues of the body. Metabolism: Describes the process that breaks down the drug. Excretion: Describes the removal of the drug from the body.

What is poor pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Poor pharmaco*kinetic parameters are a major reason for the lack of therapeutic activity of some drug candidates. Determining the pharmaco*kinetic parameters of drug candidates at an early stage of development requires an inexpensive animal model with few associated ethical issues.

What is an example sentence for pharmaco*kinetics? ›

It is evident that children have a higher metabolic rate than adults and, therefore, will have differences in their pharmaco*kinetics. However, modified drug pharmaco*kinetics occurring with age may influence drug tolerance at standard doses.

What does it mean if a drug has a half-life of 4 hours? ›

The half-life of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of a drug's active substance in your body to reduce by half. This depends on how the body processes and gets rid of the drug. It can vary from a few hours to a few days, or sometimes weeks.

Why is pharmacology class so hard? ›

Studying for pharmacology can be extremely difficult due to the overwhelming amount of information to memorize such as drug side effects, target lab values, drug interactions and more. Although the task is difficult, nursing students can follow a few easy steps to help them pass the course.

What is the simplest pharmaco*kinetic model? ›

The most simple and commonly used pharmaco*kinetic model is the two compartmental model, the Tofts-Kety model [65]. Tissue and vessel are two compartments in this model.

Is pharmacology for nursing hard? ›

Pharmacology is hard.

It is one of the toughest subjects in a nursing program. So if it is on your course list this coming semester, you're probably feeling anxious and overwhelmed already. You're not alone.

Do doctors ever use calculus? ›

For example, calculus was used to develop the co*ckroft-Gault equation, which determines the appropriate drug dosage for patients with certain kidney diseases based on the level of creatinine in their blood. Equations like this are invaluable to physicians and could not exist without an understanding of calculus.

What are the 4 calculus classes? ›

Programs
  • College Algebra and Analytic Geometry (pre-calculus)
  • Calculus I.
  • Calculus II.
  • Calculus III.
  • Calculus IV.
  • Accelerated Multivariable Calculus.

Is calculus a math class? ›

Calculus is a branch of mathematics that studies rates of change and areas around curves.

Do you have to be good at math for pharmacy? ›

There are many math concepts that are used in this career role such as addition and subtraction, fractions, determining percentages, weights, and even measurements. It is vital that you are skilled in math computation and have a strong background in math to ensure patients are receiving the correct dosage of medicine.

What is the highest level of math for pharmacy? ›

Calculus and Higher Level Mathematics.

Is math hard in pharmacy? ›

Math problems are some of the most challenging parts of the PTCE offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). The four main types of pharmacy mathematics problems are weight, volume, temperature, and time.

What are the 7 rights in administering drugs? ›

To ensure safe medication preparation and administration, nurses are trained to practice the “7 rights” of medication administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right reason and right documentation [12, 13].

What drugs have zero order pharmaco*kinetics? ›

The most common examples of drugs that have zero-order kinetics are aspirin, phenytoin, and ethanol. Many drugs will show zero-order kinetics at high, or toxic, concentrations. For drugs with zero-order kinetics, a constant amount of drug is lost per unit time.

What is the difference between PK and PD? ›

PK is defined by how a compound is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted; and PD is the measure of a compound's ability to interact with its intended target leading to a biologic effect.

What are the three most common drug forms? ›

Common dosage forms include pill, tablet, or capsule, drink or syrup, among many others.

What are 4 factors that affect absorption of a drug? ›

These include:
  • physicochemical properties (e.g. solubility)
  • drug formulation (e.g. tablets, capsules, solutions)
  • the route of administration (e.g. oral, buccal, sublingual, rectal, parenteral, topical, or inhaled)
  • the rate of gastric emptying.

What are the three 3 phases of drug activities in our body? ›

A tablet or capsule taken by mouth goes through three phases—pharmaceutic, pharmaco*kinetic, and pharmacodynamic—as drug actions occur.

What decreases drug absorption? ›

Laxatives and diarrhea, which speed up the passage of substances through the digestive tract, may reduce drug absorption. Surgical removal of parts of the digestive tract (such as the stomach or colon) may also affect drug absorption.

What drug is an example of pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Digoxin, particularly when given intravenously, is an example of a drug that is well described by two- compartment pharmaco*kinetics. After an intravenous dose is administered, plasma concentrations rise and then rapidly decline as drug distributes out of plasma and into muscle tissue.

What are five factors that affect pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Pharmaco*kinetics can vary from person to person and it is affected by age, gender, diet, environment, body weight and pregnancy, patient's pathophysiology, genetics and drug- drug or food-drug interactions. Drug therapy is impacted by factors that affect pharmaco*kinetics and pharmacodynamics.

What is the study of drugs called? ›

In the broadest sense, pharmacology is the study of how chemical agents, both natural and synthetic (i.e., drugs) affect biological systems.

What is the first pass effect? ›

The first pass effect is a phenomenon in which a drug gets metabolized at a specific location in the body that results in a reduced concentration of the active drug upon reaching its site of action or the systemic circulation.

What the drug does to the body is called? ›

Pharmacodynamics. read more , described as what a drug does to the body, involves receptor binding, postreceptor effects, and chemical interactions. Drug pharmaco*kinetics determines the onset, duration, and intensity of a drug's effect.

What is ADME in pharmaco*kinetics? ›

ADME is the four-letter acronym for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion that has described pharmaco*kinetics for 50 years.

What is the difference between pharmacodynamics and pharmaco*kinetics? ›

The difference between pharmaco*kinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) is that pharmaco*kinetics is the movement of drugs through the body, whereas pharmacodynamics is the body's biological response to drugs.

What is drug bioavailability? ›

The ability of a drug or other substance to be absorbed and used by the body. Orally bioavailable means that a drug or other substance that is taken by mouth can be absorbed and used by the body.

Which drug has longest half-life? ›

Aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, and penfluridol are examples of antipsychotic drugs with long half-lives. The mean elimination half-life of aripiprazole is about 75 hours, and that of its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, is 94 hours.

How many half-life does it take to clear a drug? ›

Even further, 94 to 97% of a drug will have been eliminated after 4 to 5 half-lives. Thus, it follows that after 4 to 5 half-lives, the plasma concentrations of a given drug will be below a clinically relevant concentration and thus will be considered eliminated.

What is the shelf life of a drug? ›

Drug expiration dates reflect the time period during which the product is known to remain stable, which means it retains its strength, quality, and purity when it is stored according to its labeled storage conditions.

What is the application of mathematics in pharmaco*kinetics? ›

Pharmaco*kinetics is the study of the way in which the body handles administered drugs. The use of mathematical models allows us to predict how plasma concentration changes with time when the dose and interval between doses are changed, or when infusions of a drug are used.

How is math used in pharmacology? ›

Pharmacists use math to monitor a patient's blood level in order to determine the effectiveness and safety level of a drug [a formula was provided for the elimination rate of the drug in order to calculate the half-life of the drug; the half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for half of it to be eliminated ...

Is pharmaco*kinetics a chemistry? ›

Pharmaco*kinetics is the study of the time course for the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of a chemical substance in a biological system. In pharmaco*kinetic modeling, established descriptions of chemical transport and metabolism are employed to simulate observed kinetics in silico.

What type of math is medical math? ›

For doctors in the field, the math involved is usually as simple as basic algebra.

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