Pharm Team Hicks Half-Life

Pharm Team HicksDrug Half-Life : 

Pharm Team HicksDrug Half-Life Rachel Hicks, Hayley Heinen, Ashley Lackey, Saba Jalilvand

Half-Life Defined : 

Half-Life Defined The duration of action of a drug is known as its half life Period of time the drug reduces to one half in the body

What is a drug half-life? : 

What is a drug half-life? The drug’s half life is usually measured by looking at how quickly medications are eliminated from blood plasma and disintegrate when they are administered via injection or intravenously.

What affects the half-life of a drug? : 

What affects the half-life of a drug? Kidney function -effects excretions Liver function -effects metabolism

Half-life Terminology : 

Half-life Terminology Clearance- Removal of drug from the plasma Volume of Distribution-Distribution of the drug in the various body tissues Plateau- steady state, usually takes 4 half lives to reach

Short Half-Life : 

Short Half-Life Medications that leave the body quickly (within 4-8 hours) Example-Ibuprofen Half-Life=2 hours

Long Half-Life : 

Long Half-Life Medications that leave the body slowly (within 24 or more hours), which leads to a greater risk for medication accumulation and toxicity. Example-Valium Half-Life=20-100 hours

Testing your Knowledge : 

Testing your Knowledge Mr. Ruiz took 200 mg of Ibuprofen (Advil) at 8:00 a.m. for his inflamed knee. At what time will he have 50 mg left in his body? 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

Answer : 

Answer c. 12:00 p.m.

Why is this Important? : 

Why is this Important? It is important to know the variation of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion between individuals because it can affect toxicity level. It is important to educate patients, so that they will understand when a drug will become effective or when the effects will discontinue.

We would like to thank our sources! : 

We would like to thank our sources! Christensen, T.E. (2009). What does a drug’s half life mean. Retrieved February 12, 2009, from WiseGeek Website: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-drugs-half-life-mean.htm Prescription drugs and medication guide. (2006) Drugs and Medication. Retrieved February 12, 2009, from Healthcare prescription drugs, Medication and substance abuse Website: http://www.healthcareprescriptiondrugabuse.com/Ibuprofen.html Riley, Fred. (2004). Pharmacology: Half life of drugs. Retrieved February 12, 2009, from University of Nottingham Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/sonet/rlos/bioproc/halflife/index.html Wissmann, J. (2008). Pharmacology for Nursing. Assessment Technologies Institue, LLC