Drug plasma levels

In comparison with the intravenous route of administration the potential advantages of intraperitoneal therapy are the avoidance of high toxic drug plasma levels and an increased (local) exposure of tumors (cells) to anticancer drugs. Whether this increased exposure... 

Time Course of Drug Plasma Levels During Repeated Dosing (A)... 

In summary, both Phase I and Phase II metabolic drug interactions are of clinical relevance because they alto the steady-state concentrations of drugs and thereby attenuate or enhance their pharmacological effects in extreme cases this can either lead to a lack of therapeutic efficacy of a drug or to drug intoxication. The purpose of drug plasma level measurements here is to adjust the dose to suit the new situation. 

Fig. 1.4. 5 Shows the administration of 2nd dose between the 7-8 hours interval which maintains the drug plasma levels above minimum effective concentration.

To maximize the clinical response where the drug plasma level-response relationship has been established based on well-designed and executed studies... 

The use of drug plasma levels to effect optimal clinical response and to minimize adverse or toxic effects is standard practice in general medicine (e.g., phenytoin, digoxin), as well as in psychiatry (e.g., lithium, tricyclic antidepressants, valproate see Chapter 3). The theoretical basis for plasma level monitoring rests on several factors, including ... 

Possibility of weaning if the neonate has adverse effects and sustained drug plasma levels Conclusion... 

Like any diagnostic test, the measurement of drug plasma level is, however, justified only when the information provided is of potential therapeutic benefit and has been demonstrated in clinical trials. The clinical value of plasma level monitoring depends on how precisely the treatment outcome can be defined. On the other hand, when a precise therapeutic end point is difficult to define, monitoring of drug levels may be of considerable therapeutic assistance for clinicians [35],... 

The effect of drugs that activate different types of receptors at different concentrations can be best controlled with minimization of fluctuations and attaining flatter drug plasma levels. 

Dayton, P.G., Cucinell, S.A., Weiss, M. Perel, J.M. (1967) Dose dependence of drug plasma level decline in dogs. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 158, 305-316. 

---