Category: Pharmacokinetics

The elimination half-life of atropine is more than doubled in children under two years of age compared to older children and adults. So, what is the half life of atropine in children? The answer varies significantly with age, a critical factor in pediatric pharmacology.

Genetic factors alone can account for 20 to 95 percent of the variability in how patients respond to individual drugs [1.3.5]. This variability highlights the complex interplay of factors that answer the question: **what influences the plasma concentration of a drug?**

Over half of the 100 most prescribed drugs in the United States are more than 90% plasma protein bound [1.5.3]. Understanding **what drugs are plasma bound** is crucial for grasping their efficacy, potential for interactions, and overall effect on the body [1.5.2, 1.3.1].

Over half of the 222 drugs compiled in one study were found to be highly plasma protein-bound, profoundly affecting their distribution and action within the body. The answer to the question, "Is plasma affected by drugs?" is a definitive yes, as this binding is a fundamental component of pharmacokinetics.

With a notably short elimination half-life of only around 2.5 hours, tianeptine is rapidly metabolized by the body. This rapid clearance means that understanding the short duration of action of tianeptine and its active metabolite is crucial for appreciating its effects and the factors influencing how it is used.