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medication half-life

Please could someone explain to me in simple terms what it means if a medication has a half life of 2-3 hours. Does this mean that the effects wear off after 2-3 hours and another dose should be taken? Or, does it mean that the effects of the med last 4-6 hours and should be taken every 4-6 hours? I am very confused. Thanks!!

veritysims Wed 24/09/08 11:05

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sqad617
Wed 24/09/08
13:35

In 2-3 hours, half of the administered dose has been eliminated from the body. That does NOT mean that the drug should be taken every 2-3 hours, in that the remaining half could still be pharmacologically active. The time that a drug is ACTIVE varies with the type of drug, so that ACTIVITY and HALF LIFE are different measurements and do not mean the same.

Ethel
Wed 24/09/08
13:36

Does this help?

http://bipolar.about.com/od/glossary/g/gl_medh alflife.htm

What is your medication for and how often should you take it?

monkeyeyes
Wed 24/09/08
13:38

I went to school with a girl called Verity Sims...............

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