half-life

Medical term Basic Pharmacology

The time it takes for the drug level in the blood to drop by half.

Sources

Related terms

excretionRemoval of a drug from the body, mainly through the kidneys.
first-pass effectMetabolism of an oral drug before it reaches its site of action, which reduces the amount of active drug.
formularyThe list of drugs a plan covers, often grouped into cost tiers.
generic nameThe official, nonproprietary name of a drug, such as ibuprofen.
indicationThe reason a drug is prescribed.
laxativeA medicine that promotes bowel movements to relieve constipation.
metric systemA decimal measuring system based on units of 10, such as grams, liters and meters.
ointmentA greasy semisolid medication applied to the skin.