Final answer:
The key pharmacokinetic parameters include onset, peak, half-life, distribution, and elimination. These parameters are essential for characterizing a drug's pharmacokinetic profile and are determined through studies using both compartmental and non-compartmental methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pharmacokinetics involves the study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body. There are several key pharmacokinetic parameters that are crucial to understanding the disposition of a drug within the body:
- Onset - The time it takes for a drug to begin to have its effect.
- Peak - The maximum concentration of a drug in the bloodstream.
- Half-life - The time required for the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream to decrease by half.
- Distribution - The dispersion or dissemination of substances throughout the fluids and tissues of the body.
- Elimination - The removal of the drug from the body, which includes both the processes of metabolism and excretion.
In pharmacokinetic studies, both compartmental and non-compartmental methods are used to determine these parameters and to characterize a drug's pharmacokinetic profile. Different routes of administration (such as intravenous, oral, or intramuscular) will affect these parameters differently, which in turn can influence how a drug is dosed to ensure efficacy while minimizing side effects.