The time it takes for the drug to eliminate 50% of the amount of its concentration in the plasma or body is referred to as its
a. half-life.
b. excretion.
c. zero-order kinetics.
d. clearance.
a. Drugs with a first-order elimination exhibit a half-life (t1/2) of elimination, which is the time it takes for the drug to eliminate half (50%) of the amount of its concentration in the plasma or body. For example, if the elimination t1/2 of a drug is 20 minutes, 50% of it remains in the blood 20 minutes after IV administration. This is a mathematical calculation that is important for adequate drug dosing.
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