Applications of Pharmacokinetic Principles
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The time course of drug concentration in the body after its administration can be defined by a number of pharmacokinetic parameters.
Applications of Pharmacokinetic Principles
The time course of drug concentration in the body
after its administration can be defined by a number of pharmacokinetic
parameters. Often, the information gained about the pharmacokinetics of one
drug helps in anticipating the pharmacokinetics of another. The knowledge of
pharmacokinetic behaviour of a drug coupled with important pharmacodynamic
parameters like therapeutic index can be put to several applications:
1.
Design and development of new
drugs with greatly improved therapeutic effectiveness and fewer or no toxic
effects
2.
Design and development of an
optimum formulation for better use of the drug
3.
Design and development of
controlled/targeted release formulation
4.
Design an appropriate multiple
dosage regimen
5.
Select the appropriate route for
drug administration
6.
Select the right drug for a
particular illness
7.
Predict and explain drug-food and
drug-drug interactions
8.
Therapeutic drug monitoring in
individual patients
9.
Dosage adjustment in situations
of altered physiology and drug interactions.
The applications of pharmacokinetic principles are
mainly aimed at achieving the therapeutic objective. The therapeutic objective
is often control or cure of the condition
in shortest possible time with
minimum side effects by the use of least amount of drug. New drug development or chemical
modification is frequently done to improve pharmacokinetic properties and
increase efficacy. Drug product design is aimed at optimising bioavailability
or better control/cure of illness through controlled- or targeted-release.
Proper choice of route of administration is necessary to ensure that the drug
moves to the site of action at a sufficiently rapid rate and amount. Selection
of a suitable drug is based on achieving optimal therapy by balancing the
desirable and undesirable effects. Co-administration of several drugs to a
patient may lead to changes in the pharmacokinetic profile of a drug which is
indicative of interactions between drugs. Such an understanding of interaction
makes possible more rational use of drugs that have to be co-administered.
Clinically, the two most important applications of
pharmacokinetic principles are:
1. Design of an optimal dosage
regimen, and
2. Clinical management of
individual patient and therapeutic drug monitoring.
Such applications permit the physician to use
certain drugs more safely and sensibly.
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